Modeling the spatial distribution of the striped dolphin ( Stenella coeruleoalba ) and common bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus ) in the Gulf of Taranto (Northern Ionian Sea, Central-eastern Mediterranean Sea)

Carlucci, Roberto; Fanizza, Carmelo; Cipriano, Giulia; Paoli, Chiara; Russo, Tommaso; Vassallo, Paolo

doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.05.035

Cited by 77 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 99 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The striped dolphin preference for waters deeper than 300 m is consistent with the findings from other Mediterranean areas (e.g. Cañadas, Sagarminaga, & Garcia‐Tíscar, ; Carlucci, Fanizza, Cipriano, Paoli, & Russo, ; Panigada et al, ), and with a diet based on pelagic and bathypelagic prey species living in the water column (including bony fishes of the families Gadidae, Sparidae, and Gonostomiatidae, and perhaps more importantly cephalopods of the families Histiotheuthidae, Ommastrephidae, Enoploteuthidaea, and Onychoteuthidaea; Aguilar, ). For instance, the stomach contents of striped dolphins bycaught in fishing gear off Turkey suggest that oceanic and bioluminiscent cephalopods with wide vertical distribution and diurnal movements are important prey (Dede, Salman, & Tonay, ; Öztürk, Salman, Öztürk, & Tonay, ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Modelling dolphin distribution within an Important Marine Mammal Area in Greece to support spatial management planning

Bonizzoni¹,

Furey

Santostasi

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Understanding marine mammal distributions is essential for conservation, as it can help identify critical habitat where management action can be taken. The semi‐enclosed Gulf of Corinth, Greece, has been identified as an Important Marine Mammal Area by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, based on the regular occurrence of odontocete populations. A 7‐year (2011–17) dataset of boat‐based surveys was used to model and predict the distribution of striped dolphins, Stenella coeruleoalba, common dolphins, Delphinus delphis, and common bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, in the entire Gulf (2400 km2). Multiple geographic, bathymetric, oceanographic, and anthropogenic variables were incorporated in a combined generalized additive model and generalized estimation equation (GAM‐GEE) framework to describe dolphin occurrence and produce distribution maps. Modelling indicated that striped and common dolphins prefer deep waters (>300 m) in the central and southern part of the Gulf, whereas bottlenose dolphins prefer shallow waters (<300 m) and areas close to fish farms along the northern–central shore. Model‐based maps of the predicted distribution identified a preferred habitat encompassing most of the Gulf, also revealing: (i) hot spots of dolphin distribution covering about 40% of the Gulf's surface; (ii) an almost complete overlap of striped and common dolphin distribution, consistent with the hypothesis that common dolphins modified their habitat preferences to live in mixed species groups with striped dolphins; (iii) a clear partitioning of striped/common and bottlenose dolphin habitat; and (iv) the important role played by fish farms for bottlenose dolphins, consistent with studies conducted elsewhere in Greece. Evidence provided by this study calls for area‐specific and species‐specific management measures to mitigate anthropogenic impacts.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Modelling dolphin distribution within an Important Marine Mammal Area in Greece to support spatial management planning

Bonizzoni¹,

Furey

Santostasi

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This could be explained by the fact that the common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus , finds more suitable habitats in Salento due to the larger extension of the shelf and shelf break zones. Consequently, since T. truncatus is an opportunistic feeder, in Salento its consumption of discards is higher due to its foraging behind the fishing vessels (Carlucci et al, ). The lower trophic level of the Odontocetes group in the Salento food web also results from the convention that the discard TL is set to 1 as non‐living matter, which is an assumption that deserves in greater attention in future.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecosystem functioning of two marine food webs in the North‐Western Ionian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea)

Ricci

Libralato

Capezzuto

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The ecosystem functioning of two marine food webs covering the north‐eastern (Salento) and south‐western (Calabria) sectors of the North‐Western Ionian Sea (NWIS) (Central Mediterranean Sea) was investigated through a food‐web model. Data inputs covered a wide set of ecological information applied to 58 functional groups (FGs). The sum of consumption and the mean predation mortality rate were calculated for benthic, demersal, and pelagic subsystems indicating the predator and prey roles of the FGs. A complex system of energy and biomass exchanges characterized the investigated food webs indicating an important benthic‐pelagic coupling. In the food webs of both areas, the regulation of flows between the benthic‐pelagic coupling seems to occur through the benthopelagic shrimps and the small pelagics due to their wasp‐waist control role. Differences were observed concerning the top predators. Odontocetes play this keystone role in the Salento food web. Anglers, bathyal squids, and sharks assume this functional role in Calabria. The geomorphology and hydrography in the NWIS could affect the biomass and energy exchanges in this coupling. The higher flows of consumption of the benthic system observed in the Calabria food web could be influenced by a widespread presence of canyons along the continental edge which increase the benthic productivity. In contrast, the flows of consumption in the Salento food web seem to be driven by the planktonic productivity supporting the pelagic, benthopelagic, and demersal compartments. This condition could be favored by the large extension of the shelf break zone. The food‐web models realized for the NWIS represent ideal platforms for the development of analysis with dynamic simulations. The comparative analysis of the two food webs by means of the FGs and their functional traits allowed the general pattern of ecosystem structure and functioning in the NWIS to be identified, making it an interesting approach to investigate the marine ecosystem.

show abstract

“…This area could be considered a Cetaceans Critical Habitat (CCH), persistently and regularly used by an important population of striped dolphins for their day‐to‐day survival and maintenance in a healthy condition, according to the ACCOBAMS definition (ACCOBAMS‐ECS‐WK Threats, ). In addition, significant interactions between striped dolphins and human activities occur in the Gulf of Taranto, where shipping navigation, naval exercises, chemical pollution from nearby industrial areas and authorized seismic surveys represent potential threats to the species (Carlucci et al, ). This intense human use of coastal and offshore areas in the northern Ionian Sea highlights the urgent need for the involvement of local, national and EU management systems in the setting of a comprehensive strategy maintaining potentially harmful activities within acceptable levels according to the EU MSDF and Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As reported in several studies, the dynamics of cohesion or dispersal influencing grouping patterns in dolphin species is mainly shaped by food availability (Benoit-Bird & Au, 2009;Heithaus & Dill, 2002;Karczmarski, Würsig, Gailey, Larson, & Vanderlip, 2005;Miyazaki, Kasuya, & Nishiwaki, 1973;Pearson, 2009), predation risks or human disturbances (Dolman, Evans, Notarbartolo di Sciara, & Frisch, 2010;Fossi & Lauriano, 2008;Gowans, Würsig, & Karczmarski, 2008;Hildebrand, 2005), intra-sexual competition and inter-sexual conflicts (Clutton-Brock, 2007), as well as habitat heterogeneity (Azzellino, Airoldi, Gaspari, & Nani, 2008;Tyne, Johnston, Rankin, Loneragan, & Bejder, 2015). Concerning the geomorphological complexity, the hydrographic characteristics and the anthropogenic disturbances in the northern Ionian Sea seem to drive not only the habitat suitability for the striped dolphin (Carlucci et al, 2016), but also its daily variations in group size through changes in aggregation patterns, depths and activity states. In particular, as observed in the north-western Ligurian Sea (Gannier, 1999;Gannier & Laran, 1999), the results suggested a cyclical activity pattern coupled to the dynamics of cohesion and dispersal of dolphins, as well as shifts in their spatial distribution.…”

Section: Geostatistical Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Here, the species could be exposed to elevated levels of anthropogenic threats such as strikes from merchant traffic, disturbance from high intensity military sonar and exposure to chemical pollution from the nearby harbour of Taranto (Cardellicchio, Giandomenico, Ragone, & Di Leo, 2000;Dolman, Williams-Grey, Asmutis-Silvia, & Isaac, 2006;Gisiner, 1998;Marsili & Focardi, 1997;Notarbartolo di Sciara & Gordon, 1997;Parsons, 2017). These conditions represent a potential threat to the long-term survival of the species, reducing its habitat suitability as a behavioural response to local human-induced environmental changes (Carlucci et al, 2016).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Abundance, activity and critical habitat of the striped dolphinStenella coeruleoalbain the Gulf of Taranto (northern Ionian Sea, central Mediterranean Sea)

Carlucci

Ricci

Cipriano

et al. 2017

Aquatic Conservation

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abundance, density, daily variation in group size, activity and habitat use of the striped dolphin in the Gulf of Taranto (northern Ionian Sea, central Mediterranean Sea) were investigated using data from sightings collected between April 2009 and December 2016 during standardized vessel‐based surveys. Density and abundance were estimated in the survey area by means of conventional distance sampling, resulting in 0.97 specimens/km2 (CV = 5.77%; 95% CI = 0.86–1.08 specimens/km2) and 615 specimens (CV = 5.77%; 95% CI = 549–689 specimens), respectively. Group size data were analysed using multivariate methods. The changes in group size, depth and percentage occurrence of activity between daily periods were investigated with non‐parametric tests. The spatio‐temporal distribution of the striped dolphin in each predominant activity was investigated by means of the ordinary Kriging method. Fifteen year‐maps of spatial prediction were produced, allowing the identification of persistent areas. The results delineate a critical habitat of about 150 km2 in the northernmost ‘Taranto Valley’ canyon system ranging between 140 and 910 m in depth. This critical habitat was persistently and regularly used by an important estimated population of striped dolphins for their day‐to‐day survival and maintenance in a healthy condition. The intense human use occurring in the area highlights the need for local, national and EU management to set a comprehensive strategy. The establishment of a SPAMI (Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance) as an effective tool for the conservation of the species is suggested. The consequence of establishing a closed area could be reasonably accepted by local concurrent stakeholders. Indeed, limiting access through the establishment of this small closed area would result in the protection of a habitat acting as an ecological refuge for many other pelagic and demersal species of commercial interest, thus favouring their spill over.

show abstract

Modeling the spatial distribution of the striped dolphin ( Stenella coeruleoalba ) and common bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus ) in the Gulf of Taranto (Northern Ionian Sea, Central-eastern Mediterranean Sea)

Cited by 77 publications

References 99 publications

Modelling dolphin distribution within an Important Marine Mammal Area in Greece to support spatial management planning

Modelling dolphin distribution within an Important Marine Mammal Area in Greece to support spatial management planning

Ecosystem functioning of two marine food webs in the North‐Western Ionian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea)

Abundance, activity and critical habitat of the striped dolphinStenella coeruleoalbain the Gulf of Taranto (northern Ionian Sea, central Mediterranean Sea)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About