A dataset of cetacean occurrences in the Eastern North Atlantic

Correia, Ana M.; Gandra, Miguel; Liberal, Marcos; Valente, Raúl; Gil, Ágatha; Rosso, Massimiliano; Pierce, Graham J.; Sousa-Pinto, Isabel

doi:10.1038/s41597-019-0187-2

Cited by 9 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Dedicated trained observers followed a standardized protocol for cetacean monitoring along line‐transect surveys, aboard cargo ships from TRANSINSULAR (Correia, Gandra, et al, 2019; Correia et al., 2015), which were used as OPOs. The company operates routes for cargo transport between Continental Portugal and Macaronesian archipelagos, with stopovers in the north‐west Africa.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, data collected are effort‐based as the survey effort is also recorded, which is fundamental to provide reliable information on distribution and relative abundance, especially when effort is highly heterogeneous and survey activity is conditioned by the weather (Correia et al., 2015; Evans, Hammond, 2004). The project has resulted in a large dataset of cetacean occurrence records across the ENA (Correia, Gandra, et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Distribution of cetacean species at a large scale ‐ Connecting continents with the Macaronesian archipelagos in the eastern North Atlantic

Correia

Gil

Valente

et al. 2020

Diversity and Distributions

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Aim To describe distribution patterns and species richness of cetaceans along a wide geographical range using occurrence data coupled with survey effort, from poorly studied oceanic areas. Specific objectives were to compare species richness and relative abundances among sub‐regions and to describe the distribution of each species. Location Eastern North Atlantic. Time period 2012–2017. Major taxa studied Cetacea. Methods Cetacean monitoring was performed by dedicated observers from cargo ships, used as platforms of opportunity, along routes between Iberian Peninsula, Macaronesia and north‐western Africa. We mapped relative abundance (encounter rates), survey effort and species richness. We examined the dependence of the number of sightings and species richness on survey effort. The area was divided into sub‐regions (according to the Exclusive Economic Zones and international waters), and relative abundances of the eight most frequently sighted species, as well as species richness, were compared among them. In addition, we describe the distribution of each species in relation to sea depth, distance to coast, latitude and longitude. Results A total of 1,989 sightings were logged, and 26 cetacean species were identified. Species richness and relative abundances of the eight most common species differed substantially between sub‐regions. Common and bottlenose dolphins distributed in shallow coastal waters contrasting with the oceanic distribution of Stenella dolphins. Cuvier's beaked whale and minke whale had similar distributions. Pilot and sperm whales were distributed in southern waters. Main conclusions A considerable amount of survey effort was needed to attain reliable estimates of species richness. In less surveyed areas, species richness and abundance are likely to be underestimated. The offshore waters presented high species richness and several hotspots of cetacean abundance. This work provides new knowledge on cetacean distribution at a large scale in the eastern North Atlantic, relevant to future conservation management.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution of cetacean species at a large scale ‐ Connecting continents with the Macaronesian archipelagos in the eastern North Atlantic

Correia

Gil

Valente

et al. 2020

Diversity and Distributions

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“…The datasets presented in this study can be found in online repositories. The names of the repository/repositories and accession number(s) can be found below: The dataset analysed for this study can be found openly available in VLIZ, distributed by OBIS and EMODnet at https://doi.org/10.14284/350associated data paper (Correia et al, 2019a). Supplementary Material is also provided.…”

Section: Data Availability Statementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this study, we aimed to relate habitat characteristics to the distribution of the eight most frequently sighted cetacean species within the eastern North Atlantic, by using ecological niche models, at basin-scale, with data collected between 2012 and 2017 from OPOs along long-distance routes (CETUS Project; Correia et al, 2019a). A description of the spatial and temporal distributions of all cetacean species sighted is presented in Correia et al (2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting Cetacean Distributions in the Eastern North Atlantic to Support Marine Management

et al. 2021

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Data on species occurrence at the scale of their distributional range and the determination of their habitat use requirements are essential to support conservation and define management plans that account for their habitat requirements. For wide-ranging species, such as cetaceans, especially considering that their marine habitats include offshore areas, collection of such data is challenging. In the absence of dedicated surveys, alternative methodologies are needed, such as the use of data collected from platforms of opportunity and modelling techniques to predict distribution in unsurveyed areas. Using 6 years of cetacean occurrence data collected along cargo ship routes between the Iberian Peninsula, northwestern African coasts and the Macaronesian islands, we developed ecological niche models to assess habitat preferences and predict suitable habitats of the eight most frequently sighted cetacean taxa in the area. Explanatory variables used for model fitting included topographic, oceanographic, detectability, geographic and seasonal features. To provide a robust habitat characterisation, along with predictions of habitat suitability, making best use of occurrence datasets, we applied two modelling techniques, GAM and Maxent, which offer complementary strengths. Coastal areas provide important habitats for common and bottlenose dophins, while other dolphin species (spotted and striped dolphins) have a more oceanic distribution. The predicted niches of Cuvier’s beaked whale and minke whales are mainly in the high seas at northern latitudes. Suitable habitats for sperm whales and pilot whales are mostly in southern areas in continental slope regions. For all the species, models indicated that areas around seamount features offer suitable habitats, likely of high relevance in oligotrophic offshore waters. As such, dedicated survey effort in such areas would facilitate development and implementation of appropriate management plans, which are currently lacking. Our models offer an important contribution to baseline knowledge of cetacean distribution at basin-scale in the region and could support the definition of priority areas, monitoring plans, and conservation measures, essential to comply with the requirements of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

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“…Any advances are made in research about cetaceans every day, underlining the richness of these marine mammals in the waters of the Canary Islands (Aguilar de Soto et al, 2001;Pérez-Vallazza and Haroun, 2005;Pérez-Vallazza et al, 2008;Fernández et al, 2009;Carrillo and Ritter, 2010;Fais et al, 2016;Puig-Lozano et al, 2020) and in the Macaronesian region (Carrillo, 2007;Alves et al, 2015;Correia et al, 2019). Unfortunately, only a few research articles have been published on the spatial and temporal distribution of these animals, that too only for some specific areas in the waters of the Canary Islands; this study is the first in our knowledge to show the general spatial distribution of cetaceans in the waters of the whole Canary archipelago.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution of Cetaceans in the Canary Islands (Northeast Atlantic Ocean): Implications for the Natura 2000 Network and Future Conservation Measures

et al. 2021

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The waters of the Canary Islands are considered a hotspot for marine biodiversity, especially regarding cetacean species. Based on this fact, this study pays attention to the spatial distribution pattern of cetacean species and the conservation role of the Natura 2000 Network, a set of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), which were defined mainly based on data compiled in 1996, under the framework of the European Habitats Directive. In recent years, the declaration of conservation areas for cetaceans between the Tenerife—La Gomera Islands by two global conservation programs, Mission Blue (“Hope Spots”) and Whale Heritage Site (“Whale Sanctuary”) sent clear signals of scientific and social interest to promote better protection of the cetacean species in the Canary Islands. The main aim of the designated SACs is the conservation of its biological and ecological diversity, ensuring the long-term survival of the target species in the waters around islands. In this case, the enactment of the SACs was based only on the sparse data available for the common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus. This study shows that the spatial distribution of cetaceans in the Canary archipelago generated from a large database of cetacean sightings, from 2007 to 2018. The results obtained show the main marine areas where the different cetacean species are distributed around the different islands of the archipelago. The spatial distribution maps of the cetacean species, when compared with the existing SACs of the Natura 2000, show the need to extend these SACs into the open sea to include more cetacean species and a larger number of individuals for better conservation of the endangered marine mammals. As a consequence, some suggestions were proposed to improve and update the role of SACs in European Northeast Atlantic waters as a key environmental tool for cetacean conservation. The data supporting the recent declarations of these two new milestones the “Hope Spot” and the “Whale Sanctuary” enhance more keystone information to promote a large marine protected area in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, such as the “Macaronesian Biodiversity and Ecological Migration Corridor for Cetaceans,” a conservation figure that has been already proposed in the scientific literature as a deserving candidate of governmental regulations and policies by Portugal and Spain; it would also require joint cross-border cooperation efforts for marine spatial planning.

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A dataset of cetacean occurrences in the Eastern North Atlantic

Cited by 9 publications

References 26 publications

Distribution of cetacean species at a large scale ‐ Connecting continents with the Macaronesian archipelagos in the eastern North Atlantic

Distribution of cetacean species at a large scale ‐ Connecting continents with the Macaronesian archipelagos in the eastern North Atlantic

Predicting Cetacean Distributions in the Eastern North Atlantic to Support Marine Management

Distribution of Cetaceans in the Canary Islands (Northeast Atlantic Ocean): Implications for the Natura 2000 Network and Future Conservation Measures

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