Re-establishment of the Mediterranean monk seal <i>Monachus monachus</i> in Cyprus: priorities for conservation

Nicolaou, Haris; Dendrinos, Panagiotis; Marcou, Melina; Michaelides, Savvas; Karamanlidis, Alexandros A.

doi:10.1017/s0030605319000759

Cited by 17 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The same trend, albeit anticipated by a year, was found in our two-year spanning Tyrrhenian sample. These observations are consistent with the increased sighting/pupping rate recently recorded in Cyprus (Nicolaou et al 2019), which may reflect a westward species expansion.…”

Section: Detection Of Monk Seal In Mediterranean Edna Samples Prior V...supporting

confidence: 91%

A species-specific qPCR assay provides novel insight into range expansion of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) by means of eDNA analysis

et al. 2022

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The monk seal is the most endangered pinniped worldwide and the only one found in the Mediterranean, where its distribution and abundance have suffered a drastic decline in the last few decades. The limited understanding of the population demographics and conservation status of this species are due to both its rarity and evasiveness, with records biased towards occasional, mostly coastal, encounters. Current molecular techniques allow us to detect DNA traces released into the environment (eDNA) by any organism. We have developed three species-specific qPCR-assays targeting the 12S/16S rRNA mitogenome regions of the monk seal. The assays have been tested extensively on a comprehensive and diverse set of samples (n = 73), including positive controls from a breeding population in Madeira collected during their peak abundance, and two opportunistic collections of Mediterranean eDNA samples (offshore/coastal) from on-going projects. Monk seal DNA was detected in 47.2% of the samples collected from a ferry platform in the Tyrrhenian (2018–2019) and in 66.7% of those obtained in the Pelagie archipelago in the Strait of Sicily (2020). These findings anticipated subsequent visual observations in the proximity of these sampling areas by up to 2 years. At the Tyrrhenian site, monk seal detection increased between 2018 and 2019. The demonstrated approach provides a non-invasive and highly sensitive tool for defining the monk seal actual distribution and home range -enabling monitoring also in nocturnal hours-, for assessing its recovery rate and pinpointing coastal/offshore sites where prioritizing conservation, research, citizen-science, and educational opportunities.

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Section: Detection Of Monk Seal In Mediterranean Edna Samples Prior V...supporting

confidence: 91%

A species-specific qPCR assay provides novel insight into range expansion of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) by means of eDNA analysis

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Although our study was limited in its coverage and continuity (Figs 1 & 2), four Class B and C seals were individually identified and persistent annual breeding was confirmed. Given that monitoring in Southern Cyprus has also confirmed regular breeding (Nicolaou et al, 2019), the island is clearly important for the species. The eastern Mediterranean population is in the low hundreds of individuals, with reduced genetic diversity (Karamanlidis et al, 2016b), and thus extensive and continuous monitoring and conservation, across all of Cyprus, is a priority.…”

mentioning

confidence: 94%

“…In Southern Cyprus, Dendrinos & Demetropoulos (2000) described 18 caves, with four suitable for breeding. Systematic monitoring was established in 2011, and 14 seals have since been identified, including five pups (Nicolaou et al, 2019). In Northern Cyprus, Gucu et al (2009) described 39 caves, with eight suitable for breeding, and five seals were identified outside the breeding season.…”

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confidence: 99%

New monitoring confirms regular breeding of the Mediterranean monk seal in Northern Cyprus

Beton¹,

Broderick

Godley

et al. 2021

Oryx

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The Endangered Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus is one of the most threatened marine mammals. Across Cyprus, suitable habitat and presence of monk seals is well documented and, recently, camera-trap surveys in Southern Cyprus found there to be pupping. We present results of the first camera-trap surveys in Northern Cyprus spanning the pupping period. Four adult/subadults and three pups were identified in three of eight caves monitored with camera traps. One site on the north-west of the island supported at least three adult/subadult seals and pupping occurred there in 3 consecutive years. The breeding and resting sites identified require urgent conservation to manage threats of disturbance, coastal development and fisheries bycatch. To determine the size of this population, a long-term survey with greater and more continuous coverage is required.

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“…The total number of seaweed species and infraspecific taxa currently accepted is 313 [9]. Inshore marine life of Cyprus includes iconic species such as monk seals [10][11][12], green turtles and loggerhead turtles [13,14]. Cyprus has a number of alien and invasive species intruding in its waters, including the green seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia var.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aspects of environmental impacts of seawater desalination: Cyprus as a case study

Xevgenos¹,

Marcou

Louca

et al. 2021

Desalination and Water Treatment

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Cyprus relies on seawater desalination for a large part of its drinking water supply, with reverse osmosis providing more than 95% of the total desalination capacity in the country. Nevertheless, the environmental impacts of desalination for the Cypriot environment remain poorly understood. Using a combination of mining existing governmental and corporate survey data and reports, this study explores the scale of desalination in Cyprus, the impacts on the coastal marine environment and its overall carbon footprint. Surveys of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows show strongly reduced density of shoots and leaf surface area, respectively. Analysis of the available data relating to the overall production of desalinated water and energy consumption reveals that 68.7 million m 3 of desalinated water were produced in Cyprus in 2017, resulting in the release of 160 ktons of CO 2 equivalent, representing around 2% of the total carbon emissions in Cyprus. The results are directly applicable for understanding the impacts of brine discharge on seagrass meadows, one of the most common types of Mediterranean seabed ecosystems and useful for providing guidance to decision makers as they are striving to achieve a zero-carbon economy. strategies for achieving greater sustainability in terms of reduced CO 2 emissions and less brine discharge are discussed.

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Re-establishment of the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus in Cyprus: priorities for conservation

Cited by 17 publications

References 11 publications

A species-specific qPCR assay provides novel insight into range expansion of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) by means of eDNA analysis

A species-specific qPCR assay provides novel insight into range expansion of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) by means of eDNA analysis

New monitoring confirms regular breeding of the Mediterranean monk seal in Northern Cyprus

Aspects of environmental impacts of seawater desalination: Cyprus as a case study

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