The recent status of Monachus monachus, the Mediterranean monk seal

Sergeant, David; Ronald, K.; Boulva, J.; Berkes, Fikret

doi:10.1016/0006-3207(78)90044-7

Cited by 46 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…In particular, the model was able to capture the steep decline of pinnipeds (n. 3) observed in the area since mid-1970s54 and a less marked decrease of medium (n. 13) and small (n. 14) demersal fish observed in mid 1990s5556. Ecosim captured some of the pattern observed for European hake (n. 12), sharks (n. 16), rays/skates (n. 17) suggesting a decline of the groups until the end of the 1990 s, followed by a slight increase or by fluctuations (in the case of European hake) in the last years of the studied period.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical changes of the Mediterranean Sea ecosystem: modelling the role and impact of primary productivity and fisheries changes over time

Piroddi

Coll

Liquete

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

157

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The Mediterranean Sea has been defined “under siege” because of intense pressures from multiple human activities; yet there is still insufficient information on the cumulative impact of these stressors on the ecosystem and its resources. We evaluate how the historical (1950–2011) trends of various ecosystems groups/species have been impacted by changes in primary productivity (PP) combined with fishing pressure. We investigate the whole Mediterranean Sea using a food web modelling approach. Results indicate that both changes in PP and fishing pressure played an important role in driving species dynamics. Yet, PP was the strongest driver upon the Mediterranean Sea ecosystem. This highlights the importance of bottom-up processes in controlling the biological characteristics of the region. We observe a reduction in abundance of important fish species (~34%, including commercial and non-commercial) and top predators (~41%), and increases of the organisms at the bottom of the food web (~23%). Ecological indicators, such as community biomass, trophic levels, catch and diversity indicators, reflect such changes and show overall ecosystem degradation over time. Since climate change and fishing pressure are expected to intensify in the Mediterranean Sea, this study constitutes a baseline reference for stepping forward in assessing the future management of the basin.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical changes of the Mediterranean Sea ecosystem: modelling the role and impact of primary productivity and fisheries changes over time

Piroddi

Coll

Liquete

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

157

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“…Similar to what occurred in December 1997, the original breeding habitat was not caves but beaches, and was altered by human disturbance (Seargent et al 1978;Marchessaux and Muller 1987). This habit increases greatly the carrying capacity of the islands for the seals.…”

Section: Species and Habitat Conservationmentioning

confidence: 83%

Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus conservation: a case study in the Desertas Islands

Pires¹,

Neves²

2001

Mamm

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The population of monk seals Monachus monachus on the Desertas Islands started to decline dramatically after the 1970s, hence the introduction of a project for the conservation of the species in 1988. Since then measures have been taken to achieve effective protection of those islands, and environemental education, monitoring and research programmes have been carried out. Methodologies used have been as non-intrusive as possible. Ten years later, the results have proved to be very positive. The monk seal, as well as its habitat, are adequately protected and the population, estimated at 20 individuals, is now on the increase with the growing number of births. With regard to the finding of biological and ecological data on the species, although somehow limited, it has been sufficient to help establish the most suitable strategies for the protection and conservation of the monk seal on the Desertas Islands.Resume. -La population de phoques moines, Monachus monachus, des lies Desertas a regresse de fagon accentuee ä partir des annees 70. C'est pour cette raison qu'en 1988, un programme pour la conservation de cette espece a debute. Depuis lors, des actions de protection effective de ces iles, des actions d'education environnementale, de suivi et de recherche ont ete realisees. Les methodologies utilisees sont autant que possible non intrusives. Dix ans plus tard, on a pu constater que les resultats etaient tres positifs. Le phoque moine et son habitat sont proteges de maniere adequate et la population, estimee a 20 individus, se trouve en phase de recuperation. On constate egalement une augmentation de la production annuelle de jeunes. Quant ä la determination des parametres de la biologic et de l'ecologie de cette espece, bien que limitee, eile permet neanmoins de definir les strategies les plus adequates ä la protection et a la conservation du phoque moine dans les lies Desertas.

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“…Monk seals have been accidentally ensnared on baited hooks in the Danube Delta (Schnapp et al 1962), in tuna nets in France in the 1930s to 1940s (Cheylan 1974), in trammel gill nets in the Bay of Tunis (Ben Othman et al 1971) and in unspecified nets on the coast of Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1913 (Boettger 1951). In the Balearic Islands, it was reported that entanglement, mostly in tuna nets, accounted for 9 deaths and was second only to shooting as a source of human-induced mortality (Sergeant et al 1978). In Algeria and Morocco, where 8 and 27 drownings were recorded, respectively, accidental entanglement was a major source of mortality up to the beginning of the 1990s (Anonymous 1990, Boutiba 1996.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing accidental entanglement as a threat to the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus

Karamanlidis¹,

Androukaki²,

Adamantopoulou³

et al. 2008

Endang. Species Res.

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The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus is the most endangered seal in the world with < 600 ind. currently surviving. The species faces a number of threats to its survival: accidental entanglement has been identified as one of the most important amongst them. Here we made the first attempt to systematically describe the nature of this threat and assess its impact on Mediterranean monk seal populations. We based our study on information from an extensive literature review, questionnaires carried out in various locations in Greece and necropsies performed in Greece and in the Madeira Islands, Portugal. Our results indicate that accidental entanglement has been, and still is, a major threat to the species in its main distribution area in the northeastern Mediterranean, and that this threat may increase throughout the seal's range. Accidental entanglement occurs mainly with fishing nets, and affects mostly sub-adult seals. Short-term conservation actions should include the identification of critical pupping sites and their protection through the establishment and enforcement of protective measures. A long-term course of action will require detailed knowledge of the causes of accidental entanglement of Mediterranean monk seals in fishing gear.KEY WORDS: Endangered species · Mediterranean monk seal · Accidental entanglement · Conservation · Seal-fishery interactions · Greece · Madeira

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The recent status of Monachus monachus, the Mediterranean monk seal

Cited by 46 publications

References 11 publications

Historical changes of the Mediterranean Sea ecosystem: modelling the role and impact of primary productivity and fisheries changes over time

Historical changes of the Mediterranean Sea ecosystem: modelling the role and impact of primary productivity and fisheries changes over time

Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus conservation: a case study in the Desertas Islands

Assessing accidental entanglement as a threat to the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus

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