DOCSLIB.ORG

Assessing Cetacean Presence in the New York Harbor Using Passive Acoustic Monitoring

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Assessing Cetacean Presence in the New York Harbor Using Passive Acoustic Monitoring Assessing Cetacean Presence in the New York Harbor Using Passive Acoustic Monitoring Bottlenose dolphins in the New York Harbor. Photo © WCS / Image taken under MNFS MMPA/ESA Permit no. 18786-14 FINAL REPORT TO THE HUDSON RIVER FOUNDATION JANUARY 2021 Grant Award: $196,411 Grant Number: 001/17E Award Date: March 23, 2018 Grant Period: January 1, 2018 - November 30, 2020 Report Period: January 1, 2018 - November 30, 2020 For more information, please contact: Howard Rosenbaum, PhD Melinda Rekdahl, PhD Libby Del Greco Director Associate Marine Senior Development Officer Ocean Giants Program Conservation Scientist Institutional Advancement Ocean Giants Program Wildlife Conservation Society Wildlife Conservation Society Wildlife Conservation Society [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Executive Summary As whales and dolphins (cetaceans) increasingly visit New York’s heavily urbanized waterways, there is growing interest in, as well as concerns about, potential impacts from anthropogenic activities that overlap with their habitat use. This area has seen an increasing number of sightings, many of which have received national and international attention.1 However, as whale sightings appear to be increasing, so too are reports of strandings (DiGiovanni, personal communication), and risk of collisions with boaters.2 Despite increasing efforts to better understand cetacean distribution and habitat use in the broader New York Bight (NYB), considerable knowledge gaps still exist. The outcome of a workshop convened by WCS and the Hudson River Foundation in 2016 identified the area in and around the Lower and Upper Bay of the New York Harbor (hereafter, when appropriate to generalize, referred to as the NY Harbor) as a significant knowledge gap. In response to the pressing need for baseline information on cetaceans in this data poor area, a Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) project was implemented in 2018 with the aim to fill some of these important knowledge gaps. With support from the Hudson River Foundation, WCS pursued two key project objectives, as follows: Investigate the temporal and spatial distribution of vocalizing cetaceans (focal species: bottlenose dolphins, harbor porpoise, humpback whales, North Atlantic right whales (NARW), minke whales, and fin whales) over a two-year period in the Lower Bay and into the Upper Bay. Characterize temporal and spatial variability in noise levels in the Lower and Upper Bay areas at frequency bandwidths relevant to commonly detected cetacean species. Here, we present the Final Report from these efforts describing the temporal and spatial distribution of cetacean species and ambient noise environment in and around the NY Harbor. Acoustic recorders were deployed from October 2018 to October 2020 in, or in close proximity to, the Lower and Upper NY Bay. The recorders were set to record across a wide frequency bandwidth to target both the low frequency vocalizing large whale species and the higher frequency vocalizing delphinid species. There were a number of surprising and noteworthy results, including: Five species (humpback whale, bottlenose dolphin, minke whale, possible pilot whale, and harbor porpoise) were detected in the NY Harbor either year-round or seasonally. ○ Humpback whales were detected over winter, spring, and fall and across all locations, even into the Upper NY Bay and, when paired with the high prevalence of sightings occurring in summer, suggest the NY Harbor is utilized by humpback whales year-round. ○ Bottlenose dolphins were detected seasonally, with some spatial and temporal variation, from April to November across all locations in the Lower NY Bay. ○ Harbor porpoise, a highly cryptic and acoustically sensitive species, were detected in the NY Harbor area year-round, with peaks in distribution from January to June. 1 See https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9032403/Humpback-whale-New-York-Harbor-ready-closeup-Statue- Liberty.html 2 See https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/humpback-whale-nearly-capsizes-boat-new-york 1 ○ There were few minke whale detections, with the only detections occurring during late summer and fall on the two recorders located either just inside the mouth of the Lower NY Bay or outside, at the Rockaway reef location. Ambient noise levels were generally very high across all locations and seasons, with median decibel (dB) levels corresponding to frequency bandwidths that overlap with—and undoubtedly mask—vocalizations of larger whales. ○ Median noise levels were higher than those reported previously in the NYB and other areas in the mid-Atlantic (Rice et al., 2014). ○ Despite relatively quieter median noise levels in the higher frequency bandwidths, corresponding to delphinid vocalizations, bottlenose dolphin whistling behavior, which is associated with social activity, was altered in the presence of elevated vessel noise. The results from this PAM project provide an important start to generating a series of baseline information on species seasonal presence and the ambient noise environment to which they are subjected. Despite the human dominated NY Harbor seascape, it is apparent that cetacean species are present year-round (harbor porpoise and humpback whales) or seasonally (bottlenose dolphins, minke whales, possible pilot whale) in the area. However, the coincident increase in strandings and close encounters with vessels are cause for concern, and particularly as the NY Harbor area faces the potential for additional development in coming years. 3,4 Moving forward, continued monitoring is recommended to ensure that any development activities are informed by the best available science and mitigation measures implemented to ensure adequate protection of vulnerable species. Humpback whale in the New York Harbor. Photo © WCS / Image taken under MNFS MMPA/ESA Permit no. 18786-04 3 See https://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Media/Fact-Sheets/Fact-Sheet-Article-View/Article/2275281/fact-sheet-new-york- and-new-jersey-harbor-deepening-and-channel-improvements-st/ 4 See http://ny.anbaric.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2020-08-05-New-York-Offshore-Transmission-Final-2.pdf 2 Background The NYB, an area encompassing 16,000 square miles between Cape May, New Jersey and Montauk, NY, is home to approximately 27 species of marine mammals,5 yet the majority of these species inhabit offshore waters. In recent years however, sightings of a number of cetacean species in near-shore waters has captivated the general public and helped raise awareness, at local and international levels, to the fact that NY City has a rich and biodiverse ocean at its doorstep. However, along with the increase in cetacean sightings has been a rising number of reports of injured or dead animals, and a number of species occurring in the NY Harbor (humpback, NARW and minke whales) are currently undergoing an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) along the Atlantic Coast.6 Of the five large whale species that may be acoustically detected in the NY Harbor (minke whales, Balaenoptera acutorostrata; North Atlantic right whales, Eubalaena glacialis; fin whales, Balaenoptera physalus; sei whales, Balaenoptera borealis; and humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae), humpback whales are the species seen with more frequency in recent years (Brown et al., 2018, 2019). Of the smaller toothed whale species, inshore bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are commonly sighted seasonally in and around the NY Harbor. One species less commonly sighted, though known to be present in coastal waters of the NYB, are harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). They are a cryptic species and like humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins, are highly vocal, and therefore easily monitored using PAM methods. All of these species are known to be highly susceptible to impacts from shipping, fisheries and ocean noise (e.g., Nashteim et al., 2020; see Appendix A for further background information). The Port of New York and New Jersey is the largest and busiest port on the eastern seaboard, and surrounding waters are used intensely by both commercial and recreational vessels, fishing, tourism and, more recently, the offshore wind industry (Federal Register 2018; see Blake et al., 2013; BOEM, 2016a; BOEM, 2016b). Forthcoming development activities such as the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary deepening and channel improvement project7 and the cable route for offshore wind energy through the Lower NY Bay8 has the potential to continue to alter the NY Harbor and disrupt an already fragile ecosystem if not properly managed. The threat of the Williams Pipeline running straight through the Lower NY Bay was blocked by the NY State government in 2019,9 thanks in part to the efforts of research organizations and eNGOs providing valuable information on the importance of this habitat for marine wildlife. These anthropogenic pressures can have negative and often cumulative impacts for whales (Jensen & Silber, 2003; Southall et al., 2007; Clark et al., 2009; Henry et al., 2013). Ocean noise impacts are now recognized as one of the most pressing concerns for marine conservation at national and international levels (Chou et al., 2021). Whales rely on sound for critical life functions (Tyack, 2008), and there is growing evidence that there are a multitude of potential impacts from noise exposure, from acute injury 5 See https://www.dec.ny.gov/ lands/108559.html 6 See https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-life-distress/2016-2021-humpback-whale-unusual-mortality-event- along-atlantic-coast; https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-life-distress/2017-2021-minke-whale-unusual-mortality-
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Resolution 3.11 Conservation Plan for Black Sea Cetaceans
    ACCOBAMS-MOP3/2007/Res.3.11 RESOLUTION 3.11 CONSERVATION PLAN FOR BLACK SEA CETACEANS The Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic area: On the recommendation of the ACCOBAMS Scientific Committee, Aware that all three Black Sea cetacean species, the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), the short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and the common bottlenose dolphin (Turpsiops truncatus), experienced a dramatic decline in abundance during the twentieth century, Taking into account that the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)-ACCOBAMS workshop on the Red List Assessment of Cetaceans in the ACCOBAMS Area (Monaco, March 2006) concluded that the Black Sea populations of the harbour porpoise, common dolphin and bottlenose dolphin are endangered, Conscious that most of the factors responsible for their decline, such as current fisheries by-catches, extensive habitat degradation and other anthropogenic impacts, pose continuous threats to the existence of cetaceans in the Black Sea and contiguous waters, represented by the Sea of Azov, the Kerch strait and the Turkish straits system (including the Bosphorus strait, the Marmara Sea and the Dardanelles straits), Convinced that the plan is an integral component of discussions on Black Sea regional and national strategies, plans, programmes and projects concerned with the protection, exploration and management of the Black Sea environment, biodiversity, living resources, marine mammals
    [Show full text]
  • Is Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena Phocoena) Exhaled Breath Sampling Suitable for Hormonal Assessments?
    animals Article Is Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) Exhaled Breath Sampling Suitable for Hormonal Assessments? Anja Reckendorf 1,2 , Marion Schmicke 3 , Paulien Bunskoek 4, Kirstin Anderson Hansen 1,5, Mette Thybo 5, Christina Strube 2 and Ursula Siebert 1,* 1 Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Werftstrasse 6, 25761 Buesum, Germany; [email protected] (A.R.); [email protected] (K.A.H.) 2 Centre for Infection Medicine, Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany; [email protected] 3 Clinic for Cattle, Working Group Endocrinology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany; [email protected] 4 Dolfinarium, Zuiderzeeboulevard 22, 3841 WB Harderwijk, The Netherlands; paulien.bunskoek@dolfinarium.nl 5 Fjord & Bælt, Margrethes Pl. 1, 5300 Kerteminde, Denmark; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +49-511-856-8158 Simple Summary: The progress of animal welfare in wildlife conservation and research calls for more non-invasive sampling techniques. In cetaceans, exhaled breath condensate (blow)—a mixture of cells, mucus and fluids expelled through the force of a whale’s exhale—is a unique sampling matrix for hormones, bacteria and genetic material, among others. Especially the detection of steroid hormones, such as cortisol, is being investigated as stress indicators in several species. As the only Citation: Reckendorf, A.; Schmicke, native cetacean in Germany, harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) are of special conservation concern M.; Bunskoek, P.; Anderson Hansen, and research interest. So far, strandings and live captures have been the only method to obtain K.; Thybo, M.; Strube, C.; Siebert, U.
    [Show full text]
  • Understanding Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena Phocoena) and Fisheries Interactions in the North-West Iberian Peninsula
    20th ASCOBANS Advisory Committee Meeting AC20/Doc.6.1.b (S) Warsaw, Poland, 27-29 August 2013 Dist. 11 July 2013 Agenda Item 6.1 Project Funding through ASCOBANS Progress of Supported Projects Document 6.1.b Project Report: Understanding harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) and fisheries interactions in the north-west Iberian Peninsula Action Requested Take note Submitted by Secretariat / University of Aberdeen NOTE: DELEGATES ARE KINDLY REMINDED TO BRING THEIR OWN COPIES OF DOCUMENTS TO THE MEETING Final report to ASCOBANS (SSFA/ASCOBANS/2010/4) Understanding harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) and fishery interactions in the north-west Iberian Peninsula Fiona L. Read1,2, M. Begoña Santos2,3, Ángel F. González1, Alfredo López4, Marisa Ferreira5, José Vingada5,6 and Graham J. Pierce2,3,6 1) Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (C.S.I.C), Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Spain 2) School of Biological Sciences (Zoology), University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, Aberdeen, United Kingdom 3) Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, PO Box 1552, 36200, Vigo, Spain 4) CEMMA, Apdo. 15, 36380, Gondomar, Spain 5) CBMA/SPVS, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal 6) CESAM, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade do Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal Coordinated by: In collaboration with: 1 Final report to ASCOBANS (SSFA/ASCOBANS/2010/4) Introduction The North West Iberian Peninsula (NWIP), as defined for the present project, consists of Galicia (north-west Spain), and north-central Portugal as far south as Peniche (Figure 1). Due to seasonal upwelling (Fraga, 1981), the NWIP sustains high productivity and high biodiversity, including almost 300 species of fish (Solørzano et al., 1988) and over 75 species of cephalopods (Guerra, 1992).
    [Show full text]
  • Eat and Be Eaten Porpoise Diet Studies
    EAT AND BE EATEN PORPOISE DIET STUDIES Maarten Frederik Leopold Thesis committee Promotor Prof. dr. ir. P.J.H. Reijnders Professor of Ecology and Management of Marine Mammals Wageningen University Other members Prof. dr. A.D. Rijnsdorp, Wageningen University Prof. dr. U. Siebert, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany Prof. dr. M. Naguib, Wageningen University Mr M.L. Tasker, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, United Kingdom This research was conducted under the auspices of the Netherlands Research School for the Socio-Economic and Natural Sciences of the Environment (SENSE). EAT AND BE EATEN PORPOISE DIET STUDIES Maarten Frederik Leopold Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of doctor at Wageningen University by the authority of the Rector Magnificus Prof. dr. ir. A.P.J. Mol, in the presence of the Thesis Committee appointed by the Academic Board to be defended in public on Friday 20 November 2015 at 4 p.m. in the Aula. Maarten Frederik Leopold Eat or be eaten: porpoise diet studies 239 pages PhD thesis, Wageningen University, Wageningen, NL (2015) With references, with summaries in Dutch and English ISBN 978-94-6257-558-5 There is a crack a crack in everything... that’s how the light gets in Leonard Cohen (1992) Anthem Contents 1. Introduction: Being small, living on the edge 9 2. Not all harbour porpoises are equal: which factors determine 26 what individual animals should, and can eat? 3. Are starving harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) sentenced 56 to eat junk food? 4. Stomach contents analysis as an aid to identify bycatch 88 in stranded harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena 5.
    [Show full text]
  • Habitat Modelling of Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena Phocoena) in the Northern Gulf of St
    Living among giants: Habitat modelling of Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence By Raquel Soley Calvet Masters Research in Marine Mammal Science Supervision by: Dr. Sonja Heinrich Dr. Debbie J. Russell Sea Mammal Research Unit, August 2011 Table of contents Abstract .................................................................................................................................i 1. Introduction 1.1 Cetacean habitat modelling....................................................................................1 1.2 Ocean Models........................................................................................................2 1.3 The Gulf of St. Lawrence......................................................................................3 1.4 Biology of Harbour Porpoises...............................................................................4 1.5 Aims.......................................................................................................................6 2. Materials and Methods 2.1 Study Area..............................................................................................................7 2.2 Data collection........................................................................................................8 2.3 Generating pseudo-absences.................................................................................10 2.4 Analysis.................................................................................................................11
    [Show full text]
  • Omslag 2011-7.Indd 1 25/08/2011 12:05 Authors
    Conservation plan for the Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena in The Netherlands: towards a favourable conservation status Kees (C.J.) Camphuysen & Marije L. Siemensma NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research omslag 2011-7.indd 1 25/08/2011 12:05 Authors C.J. (Kees) Camphuysen Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, NL Tel. + 31 222 369488, E-mail: [email protected] M.L. (Marije) Siemensma Marine Science & Communication Bosstraat 123, 3971 XC Driebergen-Rijssenburg, NL Tel. + 31 6 16830430 E-mail: [email protected] Commissioning This project was commissioned and nanced by the Dutch Ministry of Economics, Agriculture and Innovation Cover illustration Reproduced with permission from The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. Jan van de Cappelle (1649) “Shipping in a Calm at Flushing with a States General Yacht Firing a Salute” Oil on oak panel, Unframed: 69.5 x 92.1 cm. The im- age shows numerous animals in the water that could be recognised as Harbour Porpoises, which were abundant at the time. Recommended citation Camphuysen C.J. & M.L. Siemensma (2011). Conservation plan for the Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena in The Netherlands: towards a favourable conservation status. NIOZ Report 2011-07, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Re- search, Texel. © 2011 Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research omslag 2011-7.indd 4 25/08/2011 12:06 Conservation plan for the Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena in The Netherlands: towards a favourable conservation status Kees (C.J.) Camphuysen & Marije L. Siemensma © 2011 Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research 1 Conservation plan Harbour Porpoise in The Netherlands – NIOZ Report 2011-07 Authors C.J.
    [Show full text]
  • The Possible Reasons for Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus) Participating In
    The possible reasons for bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) participating in non-predatory aggressive interactions with harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in Cardigan Bay, Wales Leonora Neale Student ID: 4103778 BSc Zoology Supervised by Dr Francis Gilbert Word count: 5335 Contents Page Page: ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………….......1 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………..............................3 METHODS………………………………………………………………....................9 Study species………………………………………………………………......9 Study area………………………………………………………………….…10 Methods of data collection………………………………………...................10 Methods of data analysis………………………………………......................13 RESULTS………………………………………………………………………........14 Geographical distribution……………………………………………….......14 Object-oriented play……………………………………………………........15 DISCUSSION………………………………………………………………….…….18 Geographical distribution……………………………………………………18 Object-oriented play…………………………………………………….........18 Diet………………………………………………………………...................21 CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………23 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………………………….25 REFERENCES………………………………………………………………………26 APPENDIX……………………………………………………………………..........33 CBMWC sightings………………………...………………………………….…33 CBMWC sightings form guide………………...………………………….….34 CBMWC excel spreadsheet equations……………………………………......35 Abstract Between 1991 and 2011, 137 harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) died as a result of attacks by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Cardigan Bay. The suggested reasons for these non-predatory aggressive interactions
    [Show full text]
  • Relative Prey Size Consumption in Toothed Whales: Implications for Prey Selection and Level of Specialisation
    MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES Vol. 326: 295–307, 2006 Published November 17 Mar Ecol Prog Ser Relative prey size consumption in toothed whales: implications for prey selection and level of specialisation C. D. MacLeod1,*, M. B. Santos1, 2, A. López3, G. J. Pierce1 1School of Biological Sciences (Zoology), University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK 2Instituto Español de Oceanografia, Centro Costro de Vigo, Cabo Estay, Canido, 36208 Vigo, Spain 3Coordinadora para o Estudio dos Mamiferos Mariños (CEMMA), Apdo. 15, 36380 Gondomar, Pontevedra, Spain ABSTRACT: We investigated whether toothed whales consume prey in relation to their availability in the local environment based on the fact that availability of potential prey is likely to decrease expo- nentially with increasing size, reflecting the usual size–abundance relationships found in marine communities. We calculated relative prey size frequency spectra for 13 species of toothed whale from the northeast Atlantic. These differed considerably from an exponential distribution, suggesting that toothed whales preferentially consume larger, less abundant organisms over smaller, more abundant ones. The prey size spectra of the various cetacean species could be separated into 3 distinct groups based on the strength of the mode, maximum value and inter-quartile range. Group 1 species, such as the common dolphin, consume a wide range of relatively large organisms. In contrast, Group 2 and 3 species, such as the northern bottlenose whale and the sperm whale respectively, specialise on nar- row ranges of relatively small organisms. We hypothesise that these differences are related to the mode of prey capture. Group 1 species can capture prey using pincer-like movement of jaws contain- ing a large number of small, homodont teeth, as well as suction-feeding, allowing them to be rela- tively generalist in terms of relative prey size.
    [Show full text]
  • Temporal Changes in Abundance of Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena
    242 Abstract—Abundance of harbor por- Temporal changes in abundance of harbor poise (Phocoena phocoena) was es- timated from data collected during porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) inhabiting the vessel surveys conducted through- out the inland waters of Southeast inland waters of Southeast Alaska Alaska. Line-transect methods were used during 18 seasonal surveys Marilyn E. Dahlheim (contact author)1 spanning 22 years (1991–2012). Es- 1, 2 timates were derived from summer Alexandre N. Zerbini surveys only because of the broader Janice M. Waite1 spatial coverage and greater number Amy S. Kennedy1 of surveys during this season than during other seasons. Porpoise abun- Email address for contact author: [email protected] dance varied when different periods were compared (i.e., 1991–1993, 1 2006–2007, and 2010–2012); how- National Marine Mammal Laboratory ever, persistent areas of high por- Alaska Fisheries Science Center poise densities occurred in Glacier National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA Bay and Icy Strait, and off the town 7600 Sand Point Way NE of Wrangell and Zarembo Island. Seattle, Washington 98115-6349 Overall abundance of harbor por- 2 Cascadia Research Collective poise significantly declined from the 218 ½ West Fourth Avenue early 1990s (N=1076, 95% confidence Olympia, Washington 98501 interval [CI]=910–1272) to the mid- 2000s (N=604, 95% CI=468–780). This downward trend was followed by a significant increase in the early 2010s (N=975, 95% CI=857–1109) when abundance rose to levels simi- Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) the Southeast Alaska stock—occur- lar to those observed 20 years ear- are distributed throughout Alaska ring from Dixon Entrance (54°30′N; lier.
    [Show full text]
  • Full Text in Pdf Format
    Vol. 14: 157–169, 2011 ENDANGERED SPECIES RESEARCH Published online August 11 doi: 10.3354/esr00344 Endang Species Res Contribution to the Theme Section ‘Beyond marine mammal habitat modeling’ OPENPEN ACCESSCCESS Modelling harbour porpoise seasonal density as a function of the German Bight environment: implications for management Anita Gilles1,*, Sven Adler1,2, Kristin Kaschner1,3, Meike Scheidat1,4, Ursula Siebert1 1Research and Technology Centre (FTZ), Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, 25761 Büsum, Germany 2University of Rostock, Institute for Biodiversity, 18057 Rostock, Germany 3Evolutionary Biology & Ecology Lab, Institute of Biology I (Zoology), Albert-Ludwigs-University, 79104 Freiburg, Germany 4Wageningen IMARES, Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies, Postbus 167, 1790 AD Den Burg, The Netherlands ABSTRACT: A classical user–environment conflict could arise between the recent expansion plans of offshore wind power in European waters and the protection of the harbour porpoise Phocoena pho- coena, an important top predator and indicator species in the North Sea. There is a growing demand for predictive models of porpoise distribution to assess the extent of potential conflicts and to support conservation and management plans. Here, we used a range of oceanographic parameters and gen- eralised additive models to predict harbour porpoise density and to investigate seasonal shifts in por- poise distribution in relation to several static and dynamic predictors. Sightings were collected during dedicated line-transect aerial surveys conducted year-round between 2002 and 2005. Over the 4 yr, survey effort amounted to 38 720 km, during which 3887 harbour porpoises were sighted. Porpoises aggregated in distinct hot spots within their seasonal range, but the importance of key habitat descriptors varied between seasons.
    [Show full text]
  • Review of Small Cetaceans. Distribution, Behaviour, Migration and Threats
    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.
    [Show full text]
  • Marine Mammals of British Columbia Current Status, Distribution and Critical Habitats
    Marine Mammals of British Columbia Current Status, Distribution and Critical Habitats John Ford and Linda Nichol Cetacean Research Program Pacific Biological Station Nanaimo, BC Outline • Brief (very) introduction to marine mammals of BC • Historical occurrence of whales in BC • Recent efforts to determine current status of cetacean species • Recent attempts to identify Critical Habitat for Threatened & Endangered species • Overview of pinnipeds in BC Marine Mammals of British Columbia - 25 Cetaceans, 5 Pinnipeds, 1 Mustelid Baleen Whales of British Columbia Family Balaenopteridae – Rorquals (5 spp) Blue Whale Balaenoptera musculus SARA Status = Endangered Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus = Threatened = Spec. Concern Sei Whale Balaenoptera borealis Family Balaenidae – Right Whales (1 sp) Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata North Pacific Right Whale Eubalaena japonica Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae Family Eschrichtiidae– Grey Whales (1 sp) Grey Whale Eschrichtius robustus Toothed Whales of British Columbia Family Physeteridae – Sperm Whales (3 spp) Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus Pygmy Sperm Whale Kogia breviceps Dwarf Sperm Whale Kogia sima Family Ziphiidae – Beaked Whales (4 spp) Hubbs’ Beaked Whale Mesoplodon carlhubbsii Stejneger’s Beaked Whale Mesoplodon stejnegeri Baird’s Beaked Whale Berardius bairdii Cuvier’s Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris Toothed Whales of British Columbia Family Delphinidae – Dolphins (9 spp) Pacific White-sided Dolphin Lagenorhynchus obliquidens Killer Whale Orcinus orca Striped Dolphin Stenella
    [Show full text]