Distribution of common dolphins (Delphinus spp.) in the western Atlantic Ocean: a critical re-examination

Jefferson, Thomas A.; Fertl, Dagmar; Bolaños‐Jiménez, Jaime; Zerbini, Alexandre N.

doi:10.1007/s00227-009-1152-y

Cited by 55 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…3A). In the western Atlantic however, most areas of common dolphin distribution coincide with moderate to strong upwelling and common dolphins appear to avoid warm waters (Jefferson et al 2009). Highly productive areas have also been reported in other areas to be the preferred habitat of this species (Reilly 1990, Fiedler and Reilly 1994, Cañadas and Hammond 2008.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat preferences among three top predators inhabiting a degraded ecosystem, the Black Sea

Sánchez-Cabanes¹,

Nimak-Wood²,

Harris³

et al. 2017

Sci. Mar.

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Summary: This study investigated whether there is evidence of widespread niche partitioning based on environmental factors in the Black Sea and tested the hypothesis that physiographic factors may be employed as predictors. It addresses poorly researched areas with good habitat potential for the only three cetacean subspecies living in this area: the Black Sea short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis spp. ponticus), the Black Sea bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus spp. ponticus) and the Black Sea harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena spp. relicta). Generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to analyse data collected from multiple sources. In total, 745 sightings of the three species between 1998 and 2010 throughout the Black Sea were included. The analysis found depth and sea surface temperature to be the most important variables for separating the occurrence of the three species. Common dolphins occurred mainly in deep waters and in areas where the sea surface temperature was low, bottlenose dolphins were distributed primarily in shallower and warmer waters than common dolphins, and harbour porpoises were distributed in shallower waters with lower sea surface temperature than bottlenose dolphins. This study suggests strong niche segregation among the three cetacean species. The study is also the first contribution to the basic information of cetacean species distribution and habitat preferences in the Black Sea as a whole. Knowledge of the distribution of the three dolphin species in the study area is essential to establish conservation measures for these populations.Keywords: Black Sea; bottlenose dolphin; common dolphin; GAM; habitat preferences; harbour porpoise; niche segregation; spatial modelling. Preferencias de hábitat de tres superpredadores en el mar NegroResumen: El presente trabajo analiza si existen evidencias de partición de nicho en base a factores ecológicos básicos en el mar Negro, así como si dichos factores pueden ser empleados como predictores de distribución en zonas pobremente muestreadas con respecto a las tres especies de cetáceos que habitan el área: el delfín común del mar Negro (Delphinus delphis spp. ponticus), el delfín mular del mar Negro (Tursiops truncatus spp. ponticus) y la marsopa del mar Negro (Phocoena phocoena spp. relicta). Se usaron Modelos Aditivos Generalizados (GAMs) para analizar grupos de datos provenientes de múltiples fuentes. En total fueron incluidos 745 avistamientos de las tres especies entre los años 1998 y 2000. El análisis indica que las variables profundidad y temperatura superficial del mar fueron las más influyentes a la hora de segregar las especies espacialmente. La distribución del delfín común indicó una relación positiva con aguas más profundas y frías, mientras el delfín mular y la marsopa con aguas más superficiales y cálidas, tendiendo esta última a localizarse en aguas más frías con respecto al delfín mular. Este trabajo sugiere, por lo tanto, que existe una importante segregación de nicho entre las tres especies de cetáceos. Este análi...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat preferences among three top predators inhabiting a degraded ecosystem, the Black Sea

Sánchez-Cabanes¹,

Nimak-Wood²,

Harris³

et al. 2017

Sci. Mar.

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“…have been reported throughout the Caribbean (Roden and Mullin, 2000;Jefferson et al, 2009). According to Cuní (1918), common dolphins were often caught by fishermen in Cuban waters.…”

Section: Common (Short-beaked) Dolphin Delphinus Delphis and Long-bmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Common (Short-beaked) Dolphin Delphinus Delphis and Long-bmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent review of the occurrence of common dolphins and long-beaked common dolphins in the entire western Atlantic Ocean revealed that many reports of these dolphins in the literature are either erroneous or not verifiable (Jefferson et al, 2009). When only the confirmed records were plotted, common dolphin records were absent throughout the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and most of the tropical Atlantic Ocean.…”

Section: Common (Short-beaked) Dolphin Delphinus Delphis and Long-bmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both Cuní (1918) and Aguayo (1954) mentioned common dolphins in their general reviews of marine mammals of Cuba but did not provide any specific records or documentation corroborating the presence of Delphinus in this region. Jefferson et al (2009) rejected these records as Delphinus because of a lack of supporting details; we follow that assessment for this paper.A recent review of the occurrence of common dolphins and long-beaked common dolphins in the entire western Atlantic Ocean revealed that many reports of these dolphins in the literature are either erroneous or not verifiable (Jefferson et al, 2009). When only the confirmed records were plotted, common dolphin records were absent throughout the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and most of the tropical Atlantic Ocean.…”

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A review of marine mammal records of Cuba

Whitt¹,

Jefferson

Blanco³

et al. 2014

Lat. Am. J. Aquat. Mamm.

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There has been very little research on marine mammals in Cuban waters. Much of the information on marine mammals in this region is buried in historical and gray literature. In order to provide a comprehensive account of marine mammal occurrence in Cuba's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), we reviewed and verified 659 published and unpublished sighting, stranding, capture, and tagging records. Eighteen extant species and four genera have confirmed records for Cuban EEZ waters. This includes 17 species of cetaceans (three baleen whales and 14 toothed whales) and one sirenian species. An additional 11 cetacean species and one extant pinniped species have been reported, but not confirmed, or may have the potential to occur in Cuban waters. Historical records of the Caribbean monk seal (Monachus tropicalis) are documented in Cuba; however, this species is now considered extinct. The only two species that are seen regularly and considered common in Cuban nearshore waters are the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus). Resumen:No hay mucha investigación sobre el tema de los mamíferos marinos en aguas cubanas. La mayoría de la información se encuentra enterrada en la literatura histórica y gris. A fin de proporcionar un informe completo de la presencia de mamíferos marinos en la Zona Económica Exclusiva (ZEE) de Cuba, hemos revisado y verificado 659 registros publicados y no publicados de avistamientos, varamientos, capturas y marcajes. Dieciocho especies existentes y cuatro géneros tienen registros confirmados para las aguas de la ZEE cubana. Esto incluye 17 especies de cetáceos (tres ballenas barbadas y 14 odontocetos) y una especie de sirenio. También se han reportado sin confirmar, o tienen el potencial de presentarse en aguas cubanas, 11 especies de cetáceos y una especie de pinnípedo. Existen registros históricos de la foca monje del Caribe (Monachus tropicalis) en Cuba, sin embargo esta especie se considera extinta. Las únicas dos especies que se ven regularmente y se consideran comunes en las aguas costeras de Cuba son el tursión (Tursiops truncatus) y el manatí antillano (Trichechus manatus). Ar t i c l e in f o Manuscript type IntroduccionMarine mammal occurrence is not well documented for Cuban waters. Although historical accounts are summarized in the older literature (e.g. Cuní, 1918; Aguayo, 1954), no recent comprehensive account of marine mammals of Cuba exists. Most records are based on historical accounts and gray literature; therefore, verification of records is often difficult. Very few surveys of marine mammals have been conducted in this region of the Caribbean Sea. Most of what is known about marine mammals in Cuban waters comes from stranding and/ or capture information from local fishermen. Although these types of records are useful for identifying species presence, they do not provide adequate information on species abundance and distribution which can be estimated from systematic surveys. Abundance information is particularly impor...

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Identifying and predicting occurrence and abundance of a vocal animal species based on individually specific calls

et al. 2021

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Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) offers opportunities to collect data on the occurrence of vocal species for long periods of time, at multiple locations, and under a range of environmental conditions. Some species emit individually distinctive calls, including bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) that produce signature whistles. Our study used PAM to determine the seasonal occurrence of bottlenose dolphins and utilized individually specific signature whistles to (1) track individuals spatially and temporally, (2) assess site fidelity off Maryland (MD), USA, (3) estimate the minimum abundance of dolphins in the study area, and (4) develop a dynamic habitat‐based relative abundance model applicable as a real‐time dolphin relative abundance prediction tool. Acoustic recorders were deployed at two sites offshore of Ocean City, MD, and at one site in the upper Chesapeake Bay, MD. Acoustic recordings from 2016 to 2018 were analyzed for signature whistles, and re‐occurrences of individual whistles were identified using a combination of machine learning and manual verification. A habitat‐based density model was created using the number of signature whistles combined with environmental conditions. A total of 1518 unique signature whistles were identified offshore of Maryland and in the upper Chesapeake Bay. There were 184 re‐occurrences of 142 whistles, with a mean of 135 d between re‐occurrences (range = 1–681 d). These repeated detections of the same individuals occurred most frequently at the site near Ocean City, MD, indicating the highest site fidelity. Re‐occurrences were recorded among all three sites, indicating movement of dolphins between the Chesapeake Bay and off the Atlantic coast of Maryland. The weekly number of individual dolphins detected off the Atlantic coast was significantly related to two environmental variables: sea surface temperature and chlorophyll a concentration. This habitat model could be used to predict relative dolphin abundance offshore of Maryland and inform management within the region, including in relation to offshore wind energy development and other stakeholders.

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Distribution of common dolphins (Delphinus spp.) in the western Atlantic Ocean: a critical re-examination

Cited by 55 publications

References 43 publications

Habitat preferences among three top predators inhabiting a degraded ecosystem, the Black Sea

Habitat preferences among three top predators inhabiting a degraded ecosystem, the Black Sea

A review of marine mammal records of Cuba

Identifying and predicting occurrence and abundance of a vocal animal species based on individually specific calls

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