Cetacean response to summer maritime traffic in the Western Mediterranean Sea

I Campana; R Crosti; D Angeletti; L Carosso; L David; N Di-Méglio; A Moulins; M Rosso; P Tepsich; A Arcangeli

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2015.05.009

Cetacean response to summer maritime traffic in the Western Mediterranean Sea

Mar Environ Res. 2015 Aug:109:1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2015.05.009. Epub 2015 May 21.

Authors

I Campana¹, R Crosti², D Angeletti³, L Carosso⁴, L David⁵, N Di-Méglio⁵, A Moulins⁶, M Rosso⁶, P Tepsich⁷, A Arcangeli⁸

Affiliations

¹ Tuscia University, Dep. of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Ichthyogenic Experimental Marine Center (CISMAR), Borgo Le Saline, 01016 Tarquinia, VT, Italy; Accademia del Leviatano, V.le dell'Astronomia 19, 00144 Rome, Italy.
² ISPRA, IV Dep. STS Palermo, Via S. Puglisi 9, 90123 Palermo, Italy.
³ Tuscia University, Dep. of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Ichthyogenic Experimental Marine Center (CISMAR), Borgo Le Saline, 01016 Tarquinia, VT, Italy.
⁴ Pisa University, Dep. of Biology, Via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
⁵ EcoOcéan Institut, 18 Rue des Hospices, 34090 Montpellier, France.
⁶ CIMA Research Foundation, V. Magliotto 2, 17100 Savona, Italy.
⁷ CIMA Research Foundation, V. Magliotto 2, 17100 Savona, Italy; Genoa University, Dep. of Informatics Bioengineering Robotics and System Engineering (DIBRIS), Genoa, Italy.
⁸ ISPRA, V. Brancati 48, 00144 Rome, Italy; Roma TRE University, Dep. of Sciences, V.le G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: antonella.arcangeli@isprambiente.it.

PMID: 26009840
DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2015.05.009

Abstract

Maritime traffic is one of many anthropogenic pressures threatening the marine environment. This study was specifically designed to investigate the relationship between vessels presence and cetacean sightings in the high sea areas of the Western Mediterranean Sea region. We recorded and compared the total number of vessels in the presence and absence of cetacean sightings using data gathered during the summer season (2009-2013) along six fixed transects repeatedly surveyed. In locations with cetacean sightings (N = 2667), nautical traffic was significantly lower, by 20%, compared to random locations where no sightings occurred (N = 1226): all cetacean species, except bottlenose dolphin, were generally observed in locations with lower vessel abundance. In different areas the species showed variable results likely influenced by a combination of biological and local environmental factors. The approach of this research helped create, for the first time, a wide vision of the different responses of animals towards a common pressure.

Keywords: Cetaceans; Conservation measures; Maritime traffic; Mediterranean Sea; Monitoring.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Cetacea / physiology*
Conservation of Natural Resources*
Mediterranean Sea
Population Density
Seasons
Ships*