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Effects of vessel traffic on relative abundance and behaviour of cetaceans: the case of the bottlenose dolphins in the Archipelago de La Maddalena, north-western Mediterranean sea

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Abstract

Many studies have shown that vessel traffic has both long- and short-term negative effects on marine mammals. Although there has been a great expansion of recreational vessel traffic in the Mediterranean Sea in recent decades, few studies focused on this problem. Here, Bayesian models were used to explore the influence of vessel traffic on behaviour and relative abundance patterns of bottlenose dolphin in the Archipelago de La Maddalena (Italy), a coastal area included within the Pelagos Sanctuary. Results showed that season, moon phase and presence of calves had an effect on the number of adult dolphins per sighting, and that there were differences in occurrence in the sub-areas. On the contrary, the number of vessels was negatively related to the number of adult dolphins and their mean dive intervals. In particular, when more than three recreational boats were present in the area, dolphins surfaced more frequently per unit time and behaviours such as feeding and socializing were not detected. On the contrary, longer mean dive was found when fishing boats were present. Our results provide additional support for the need to consider disturbance such as vessel traffic in management plans for cetacean conservation.

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Acknowledgements

This study was part of the Tursiops Project of the Dolphin Research Centre of Caprera, La Maddalena. Financial and logistical support was provided by the Centro Turistico Studentesco (CTS) and by the National Park of the Archipelago de La Maddalena. We thank the Natural Reserve of Bocche di Bonifacio for the support provided during data collection. The authors thank the numerous volunteers of the Caprera Dolphin Research Centre and especially Marco Ferraro, Mirko Ugo, Angela Pira and Maurizio Piras whose assistance during field observation and skills as a boat driver were invaluable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departament d’Estadística i Investigació Operativa, Statistical Modeling Ecology Group (SMEG), Universitat de València, C/Dr. Moliner 50, Burjassot, 46100, Valencia, Spain

    Maria Grazia Pennino

  2. Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad del País Vasco, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain

    M. Amparo Pérez Roda

  3. Oceanlab, University of Aberdeen, Main Street, Aberdeenshire, Newburgh, AB41 6AA, UK

    Graham J. Pierce

  4. Departamento de Biologia and CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

    Graham J. Pierce

  5. Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Sassari, Sassari, Italy

    Andrea Rotta

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  1. Maria Grazia Pennino
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Correspondence to Maria Grazia Pennino.

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Pennino, M.G., Pérez Roda, M.A., Pierce, G.J. et al. Effects of vessel traffic on relative abundance and behaviour of cetaceans: the case of the bottlenose dolphins in the Archipelago de La Maddalena, north-western Mediterranean sea. Hydrobiologia 776, 237–248 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-016-2756-0

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