Changes in the breeding variables of the Mediterranean Monk seal <i>(Monachus monachus) </i>colony of Cabo Blanco Peninsula after a mass mortality episode

González, LM; Cedenilla, M. A.; Larrinoa, Pablo Fernández de; Layna, Jorge F.; Aparicio, Fernando

doi:10.1515/mamm.2002.66.2.173

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

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“…Madeira, and Mauritania (Mursaloglu 1986; Gonzalez et al 1997, 2002; Karamanlidis 2004 a ). However, the more extensive data set and quantitative approach followed by the present work allows us to draw the following, specific biological inferences.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pupping Habitat Use in the Mediterranean Monk Seal: A Long‐term Study

Dendrinos¹,

Karamanlidis²,

Kotomatas³

et al. 2007

Marine Mammal Science

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The Mediterranean monk seal gives birth almost exclusively in coastal caves. Given its critical conservation status, the identification and protection of such sites is important for the survival of the species. From 1990 to 2004 we collected data on physical and environmental variables and monitored pupping events in thirty‐four coastal caves in Greece. We modeled the probability of cave occupancy as a function of the properties of each cave. Model selection and model averaging enabled us to rank the variables that influenced use of potential pupping sites. Environmental variables related to cave seclusion, substrate, and degree of protection from wind and wave action were the most important among them. The relative importance and directions of these relationships confirm the long‐standing assumption that Mediterranean monk seals require sheltered pupping sites, far from sources of human disturbance and thus are progressively limited to isolated parts of the country's coastline. We used cross‐validation to examine the predictive ability of our analysis and quantified the sensitivity of our predictions to the degree of extrapolation. We conclude that, although more data are required, the model is capable of predicting occupancy for caves close to the middle of the environmental space examined in this study.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pupping Habitat Use in the Mediterranean Monk Seal: A Long‐term Study

Dendrinos¹,

Karamanlidis²,

Kotomatas³

et al. 2007

Marine Mammal Science

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“…Following the mass die‐off, a change in the reproductive parameters of the colony was observed (González et al. ) and currently births are recorded from April to November, with a clear peak in September (Cedenilla et al. ).…”

Section: Puppingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pupping in the monk seal colony at Cabo Blanco prior to the mass die-off in 1997 was observed throughout the year, with a small peak of births in September (Gazo et al 1999, Pastor & Aguilar 2003. Following the mass die-off, a change in the reproductive parameters of the colony was observed (González et al 2002) and currently births are recorded from April to November, with a clear peak in September (Cedenilla et al 2007). Also, since the mass die-off, annual reproductive rates have increased from 0.25-0.43 to 0.76 pups per female adult; the annual pupping rate has also increased from 23 pups in 2000 to 69 pups in 2014 (Gazo et al 1999, Gazo et al 2000b.…”

Section: Puppingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus: status, biology, threats, and conservation priorities

Karamanlidis

Dendrinos

Larrinoa³

et al. 2015

Mammal Review

103

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The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus is the most endangered seal species. In this review we summarize the status, ecology, and behaviour of the Mediterranean monk seal, and identify the main threats that currently affect the species and the conservation priorities for securing its survival. Once abundant throughout the Black Sea and Mediterranean, as well as off the Atlantic coasts of northwestern Africa and Macaronesia, the Mediterranean monk seal has recently suffered dramatic declines, both in abundance and geographical range. It is now estimated that fewer than 700 individuals survive in three or four isolated subpopulations in the eastern and western Mediterranean, the archipelago of Madeira and the Cabo Blanco area in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. Mediterranean monk seals are coastal marine mammals. When resting and pupping on land, individuals generally seek refuge in inaccessible marine caves; this behaviour is, in part, believed to be an adaptation to increased disturbance by humans. Larger aggregations or colonies of the species can now be found only at Cabo Blanco in the Atlantic Ocean and on the island of Gyaros in the eastern Mediterranean. The main threats to the survival of the Mediterranean monk seal are habitat deterioration; deliberate killing, mainly by fishermen; and accidental entanglement and drowning in fishing gear. Limited availability of food sources and stochastic and unusual events have occasionally also contributed to Mediterranean monk seal mortality. Based on a common consensus among scientists and conservationists, the main conservation priorities for the monk seal are: habitat protection; mitigating negative interactions between seals and fisheries; scientific research and monitoring of local seal populations; education and public awareness campaigns; and rescue and rehabilitation of wounded, sick, and orphaned seals.

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“…data) per potential reproductive female (SA and AF estimated in caves) obtained for 2003 to 2007, ranged between 0.46 and 0.62. González et al (2002) suggested that the pup survival rate did not vary between pre-and post-mortality events. However, detailed information on juvenile survival and emigration is scarce, and we believe that these factors could be related to the limited rate of SA recruitment detected.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population resilience of the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus at Cabo Blanco peninsula

Martínez‐Jauregui¹,

Tavecchia²,

Cedenilla³

et al. 2012

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Environmental and demographic stochasticity alone can push small populations to extinction. However, some small populations can persist for a long time at a low density, maintaining potential for rapid growth. We investigated the demographic mechanisms underlying the response of the population of the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus on the Cabo Blanco peninsula (Mauritania/Morocco). The population was dramatically reduced after a demographic crash in 1997, which was initially thought to have pushed the population toward extinction. Census data, individual-based data on presence−absence and breeding state data were obtained by direct observation, by photo-identification and through the analysis of video images at the only known breeding sites for the species. We found that the monk seal population at Cabo Blanco is recovering, with means of 31 (24.8, 36.8) sub-adults, 46 (42.3, 49.7) adult females and 39 (29.1, 48.4) adult males using the 2 breeding sites in 2007. The population structure is similar to proportions prior to the mass mortality event. Annual survival probabilities for sub-adults, adult females and adult males were 0.81 (0.676 to 0.904), 0.99 (0.926 to 0.998) and 0.87 (0.81 to 0.94), respectively. At present, juvenile survival is unknown, but the high survival of females and the high breeding potential are likely to be responsible for the population recovery.

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Changes in the breeding variables of the Mediterranean Monk seal (Monachus monachus) colony of Cabo Blanco Peninsula after a mass mortality episode

Cited by 15 publications

References 0 publications

Pupping Habitat Use in the Mediterranean Monk Seal: A Long‐term Study

Pupping Habitat Use in the Mediterranean Monk Seal: A Long‐term Study

The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus: status, biology, threats, and conservation priorities

Population resilience of the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus at Cabo Blanco peninsula

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