scholarly journals Cetacean strandings along the German North Sea coastline 1604–2017

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Carl Christian Kinze ◽  
Richard Czeck ◽  
Helena Herr ◽  
Ursula Siebert
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Sperm Whale ◽  
Beluga Whale ◽  
Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Common Dolphin ◽  
Physeter Macrocephalus ◽  
Pilot Whale ◽  
Stenella Coeruleoalba ◽  
Fin Whale

Abstract The occurrence of 19 cetacean species along the German North Sea coastline as well as the lower reaches of the major rivers discharging into the German Bight is reviewed for the period 1604–2017 based on records of dead animals, either stranded dead or put to death. The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is considered the most abundant and only native species in German coastal and riverine waters. Based on written sources its presence can be traced back to at least 1651, although with statistical data only available from 1990. Finds of further 18 species have been documented: white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris), bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus), common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas), killer whale (Orcinus orca), beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas), narwhal (Monodon monoceros), Sowerby's beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens), northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus), sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis), fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) and humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). This review corrects several false species assignments earlier introduced in literature based on incorrect scientific or ambiguous German vernacular names and recovers lost records of beluga whale, northern bottlenose whale, sperm whale and fin whale.

The cetaceans of Aruba, southern Caribbean

2013 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 1161-1174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolanda A. Luksenburg
Keyword(s):  
Killer Whale ◽  
Sperm Whale ◽  
Common Dolphin ◽  
Physeter Macrocephalus ◽  
Cetacean Species ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
Pilot Whale ◽  
Stenella Frontalis ◽  
Spotted Dolphin ◽  
Delphinus Capensis

Aruba is one of the most densely populated islands in the Caribbean. However, very little is known about its cetaceans. In 2010 and 2011, a total of 19721 km (1686 h) boat-based surveys over nearshore transects resulted in 117 positively-identified sightings comprising eight species. New records are also added for one of three previously-documented species. Five additional species were documented from strandings or reports by others. This brings the total number of cetacean species identified in Aruban waters to 16, of which nine are authenticated here for the first time. Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis (N = 59) and bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) (N = 33) were the most frequently observed species, with sightings of both year-round, followed by spinner dolphin (S. longirostris) and false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens). Additional species recorded are pantropical spotted dolphin (S. attenuata), striped dolphin (S. coeruleoalba), common dolphin (Delphinus capensis), rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis), short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), killer whale (Orcinus orca), Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), Bryde's/Eden's whale (Balaenoptera brydei/edeni), sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) and an unidentified beaked whale (Mesoplodon sp.). All cetaceans were sighted within 22 km of the coast in relatively shallow waters. Sighting rate was low (0.69 cetacean sightings per 100 km). Sightings of calves and neonates indicate that Aruba may be a nursing or breeding area for some species. The presence of several species of cetaceans in Aruba's coastal waters year-round indicates that status and threat assessments are needed to protect them.

Summer distribution and relative abundance of cetacean populations off north-west Scotland

2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 1187-1192 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Macleod ◽  
M.P. Simmonds ◽  
E. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Sperm Whale ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Line Transect ◽  
Migration Route ◽  
Common Dolphin ◽  
Physeter Macrocephalus ◽  
Pilot Whale ◽  
North West ◽  
Line Transect Survey

A line transect survey was conducted in July/August 1998 to investigate the distribution and abundance of cetaceans off north-west Scotland. Over 2156.5 km of survey effort, 304 sightings were recorded of which 184 were identified to species. Nine species were identified: Atlantic white-sided dolphin Lagenorhynchus acutus, fin whale Balaenoptera physalus, sei whale Balaenoptera borealis, long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas, sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus, common dolphin Delphinus delphis, harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena, white beaked dolphin Lagenorhynchus albirostris and Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus. The Atlantic white-sided dolphin was the most relatively abundant species. The relative abundance of large whales and dolphins was greatest in the Faroe–Shetland Channel. The continental slopes of this area are undergoing development by oil industries and concerns have been raised about the potential impacts of these activities on cetaceans. These waters are used year-round by cetaceans and provide feeding and breeding grounds and are a migration route for large whales.

scholarly journals A note on concentrations of metals in cetaceans from southern Africa

1999 ◽  
pp. 177-194
Author(s):  
John Henry
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Whale ◽  
Common Dolphin ◽  
Physeter Macrocephalus ◽  
Cetacean Species ◽  
Stenella Coeruleoalba ◽  
Right Whales ◽  
Beaked Whales ◽  
Common Dolphins ◽  
Hourglass Dolphin ◽  
Pygmy Sperm Whale

Concentrations of zinc, copper, cadmium, mercury and lead were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in samples of the brain, kidney , liver and muscle tissue from 178 individuals of 323 different cetacean species (4 right whales - Eubalaena australis, 2 pygmy right whales - Caperea marginara, 3 minke whales - Balaenoptera acutorostrata, 3 Bryde's whales - B. edeni, 1 humpback whale - Megaptera novaeangliae, 1 sperm whale - Physeter macrocephalus, 11 pygmy sperm whale - Kogia breviceps, 6 dwarf sperm whales - K. simus, 1 southern bottlenose whale - Hyperoodon planifrons, 1 Cuvier's beaked whale - Ziphius cavirostris, 9 Blainville's beaked whales - Mesoplodon densirostris, 5 strap-tooth whales - M. layardii, 2 True's beaked whales - M. mirus, 3 long-finned pilot whales - Globicephala me/as, 30 Risso's dolphins - Grampus griseus, 12 bottlenose dolphins - Tursiops truncatus, 5 striped dolphins - Stenella coeruleoalba, 1 pantropical spotted dolphin - S. attenuata, 1 hump-backed dolphin - Sousa chinensis, 21 dusky dolphins - Lagenorhynchus obscurus, 1 hourglass dolphin - L. cruciger, 12 Heaviside's dolphins - Cephalorhynchus heavisidii and 43 common dolphins - Delphinus delphis). All but the hourglass dolphin were strandings or animals taken incidental to fishing operations or under scientific permit in coastal waters of South Africa or Namibia. Highest concentrations of Zn, Cu and Hg were generally found in the liver and of Cd in the kidney. Comparisons of animals pre-and post puberty indicated accumulation of hepatic mercury in the pygmy sperm whale, Risso's dolphin, dusky dolphin and common dolphin. Loss of a metal (zinc) after puberty was only shown in the common dolphin. No individual analyses exceeded proposed (human) tolerance limits for hepatic mercury and hepatic or renal cadmium

scholarly journals Beached bachelors: An extensive study on the largest recorded sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus mortality event in the North Sea

PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. e0201221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lonneke L. IJsseldijk ◽  
Abbo van Neer ◽  
Rob Deaville ◽  
Lineke Begeman ◽  
Marco van de Bildt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Sperm Whale ◽  
Extensive Study ◽  
Physeter Macrocephalus ◽  
Mortality Event ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Sea

Age and growth of some delphinids in south-eastern Brazil

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 293-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvatore Siciliano ◽  
Renata Maria A. Ramos ◽  
Ana Paula M. Di Beneditto ◽  
Marcos César O. Santos ◽  
Ana Bernadete Fragoso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Curve ◽  
Atlantic Coast ◽  
Age And Growth ◽  
Common Dolphin ◽  
Pilot Whale ◽  
Stenella Frontalis ◽  
Stenella Coeruleoalba ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Spotted Dolphin ◽  
Eastern Brazil

This study provides the first compilation on age and growth of some delphinids in south-eastern Brazil (18°25′S–25°45′S). A total of 154 delphinids were reported: 44 Atlantic spotted dolphin Stenella frontalis; 36 bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus; 26 ‘Brazilian’ common dolphin Delphinus sp.; 20 rough-toothed dolphin Steno bredanensis; 16 Fraser's dolphin Lagenodelphis hosei; 3 false killer whale Pseudorca crassidens; 3 unidentified Stenella sp.; 2 pantropical spotted dolphin Stenella attenuata; 2 short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus; 1 spinner dolphin Stenella longirostris; and 1 striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba. Age was estimated by counting the number of growth layer groups present in the dentine in 74.5% of the sample. The growth of 92 individuals of the first five species was determined by the Gompertz model to length-at-age data. Stenella frontalis—the oldest specimen was 23 y and the asymptotic length of 224.4 cm predicted by growth curve occurred at about 20 y; T. truncatus—the oldest specimen was 26 y and the asymptotic length of 301.3 cm predicted by growth curve occurred at about 20 y; Delphinus sp.—the oldest dolphin was 18 y and the asymptotic length of 215.9 cm predicted by growth curve occurred at about 5–6 y; S. bredanensis—the oldest specimen was 24 y and the asymptotic length of 258.1 cm predicted by growth curve occurred at about 10 y; L. hosei—the oldest specimen was 19 y and the asymptotic length of 231.2 cm predicted by growth curve occurred at about 7–8 y. Only age was estimated for the other species. The age-at-length data for S. frontalis, Delphinus sp., S. bredanensis and L. hosei were consistent, suggesting a good agreement with previous work on these species. For T. truncatus, the age at asymptotic length obtained in this study might be confirmed by increasing the sample size. The information currently presented will contribute to further life history research of delphinids on the western south Atlantic coast.

Seasonal variation of striped dolphins, fin- and sperm whales' abundance in the Ligurian Sea (Mediterranean Sea)

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 345-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Laran ◽  
Violaine Drouot-Dulau
Keyword(s):  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Sperm Whale ◽  
Line Transect ◽  
Physeter Macrocephalus ◽  
Monthly Basis ◽  
Ligurian Sea ◽  
Stenella Coeruleoalba ◽  
Abundance Indices ◽  
Fin Whales ◽  
Acoustic Sampling

In order to investigate seasonal changes in cetacean relative abundance, a series of surveys were conducted between the French mainland and Corsica. From February 2001 to February 2004, thirty similar transects were conducted monthly, using the same dedicated boat and a consistent sampling protocol, including visual observation and passive acoustic sampling. A total effort of 5759 km was sampled, conducted at the same speed and in good sighting conditions. Relative abundances of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) were determined using standard line-transect methodology. The relative abundance of striped dolphins peaked in May and September (>1.3×10-2 ind.km-1), while a consistent minimum value (<0.6×10-2 ind.km-1) was obtained from December to April. A maximum relative abundance of fin whales occurred in August with 5.6×10-2 ind.km-1 and decreased to almost zero from November to January. For sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), a long diver species, frequency and abundance indices were determined using acoustic sampling. The highest acoustic relative abundance was observed from August to October, with more than 2×10-2 ind.km-1. Environmental parameters (sea surface temperature and chlorophyll) were computed for the sampling area from remote sensing imagery and pooled on a monthly basis, to correlate with relative abundance indices of the three species.

scholarly journals Causes of cetacean stranding and death on the Catalonian coast (western Mediterranean Sea), 2012-2019

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 ◽  
pp. 239-253
Author(s):  
M Cuvertoret-Sanz ◽  
C López-Figueroa ◽  
A O’Byrne ◽  
A Canturri ◽  
B Martí-Garcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Maternal Separation ◽  
Systemic Disease ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Unknown Origin ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Common Dolphin ◽  
Stenella Coeruleoalba ◽  
Fin Whale ◽  
Catalan Coast

The causes of cetacean stranding and death along the Catalan coast between 2012 and 2019 were systematically investigated. Necropsies and detailed pathological investigations were performed on 89 well-preserved stranded cetaceans, including 72 striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba, 9 Risso’s dolphins Grampus griseus, 5 bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus, 1 common dolphin Delphinus delphis, 1 Cuvier’s beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris and 1 fin whale Balaenoptera physalus. The cause of death was determined for 89.9% of the stranded cetaceans. Fisheries interaction was the most frequent cause of death in striped dolphins (27.8%) and bottlenose dolphins (60%). Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) was detected on the Catalan coast from 2016 to 2017, causing systemic disease and death in 8 of the 72 (11.1%) striped dolphins. Chronic CeMV infection of the central nervous system was observed from 2018-2019 in a further 5 striped dolphins. Thus, acute and chronic CeMV disease caused mortality in 18% of striped dolphins and 14.6% of all 89 cetaceans. Brucella ceti was isolated in 6 striped dolphins and 1 bottlenose dolphin with typical brucellosis lesions and in 1 striped dolphin with systemic CeMV. Sinusitis due to severe infestation by the nematode parasite Crassicauda grampicola caused the death of 4 out of 6 adult Risso’s dolphins. Maternal separation, in some cases complicated with septicemia, was a frequent cause of death in 13 of 14 calves. Other less common causes of death were encephalomalacia of unknown origin, septicemia, peritonitis due to gastric perforation by parasites and hepatitis caused by Sarcocystis spp.

Cadmium, Copper, Lead, and Zinc in Five Toothed Whale Species of the Mediterranean Sea

2001 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 339-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Frodello ◽  
B. Marchand
Keyword(s):  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Common Dolphin ◽  
Pilot Whale ◽  
Stenella Coeruleoalba ◽  
Delphinus Delphis ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Metal Levels ◽  
Toothed Whale ◽  
Cadmium Lead ◽  
Zinc Levels

The cadmium, lead, copper, and zinc levels were measured in six organs (lung, liver, kidney, skin, muscle, and bone) from 18 specimens of toothed whales, belonging to five species, found stranded along the Corsican coast between November 1993 and December 1998. The five species examined were the bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus, the common dolphin Delphinus delphis, the striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba, the pilot whale Globicephala melas, and the Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus. The values obtained demonstrate that there is a great variability in the accumulation of toxic metals. A comparison of the values with those obtained in other geographical regions also demonstrates an extensive variability in metal levels. The presence of metals in the stomach contents of three of the individuals studied shows that the food source is responsible for a significant input of pollutants to the whales. Measured pollutant levels in whales are thus the result of an accumulation occurring throughout the animal's life.

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