Postnatal ossification of the thoracic limb in striped dolphins (<i>Stenella coeruleoalba</i>) (Meyen, 1833) from the Mediterranean Sea

Monitoring of Delphinidae species population patterns in the Mediterranean Sea was carried out in a sequence of surveys employing different approaches. Data from seven-year surveys with small catamaran sailing boats were analyzed under model-based approaches. Density Surface Models were used to produce spatial distribution prediction of three Delphinidae species (Stenella coeruleoalba, Tursiops truncatus, and Delphinus delphis) in an extended study area covering much of the Mediterranean Sea. A classical distance sampling protocol was applied in order to calculate the detection probability of clusters. Static (depth, slope, distance from the coast, and distance from isobaths of 200 m) and nonstatic (sea surface temperature and chlorophyll) variables were used to predict the species distribution/abundance in a generalized additive model context. Stenella coeruleoalba was found to be the dominant species, with an extended distribution in the study area; its abundance was significantly affected by both depth and distance. Tursiops truncatus and Delphinus delphis illustrated a significant abundance correlation with depth and chlorophyll, respectively, while both species showed a robust longitude correlation. Our model pinpoints the significance of nondesigned transect line surveys, suggesting the importance of specific habitat areas for future monitoring and conservation aspects of marine mammals.

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Accumulation and tissue distribution of mercury and selenium in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Mediterranean Sea (southern Italy)

Environmental Pollution ◽

10.1016/s0269-7491(01)00127-0 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 116 (2) ◽

pp. 265-271 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

N Cardellicchio ◽

A Decataldo ◽

A Di Leo ◽

A Misino

Keyword(s):

Tissue Distribution ◽

Mediterranean Sea ◽

Southern Italy ◽

Stenella Coeruleoalba ◽

The Mediterranean

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Subcellular distribution of heavy metals in livers and kidneys of Stenella coeruleoalba and Tursiops truncatus from the Mediterranean Sea

Marine Pollution Bulletin ◽

10.1016/s0025-326x(01)00221-1 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 44 (1) ◽

pp. 74-79 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

M.M Storelli ◽

G.O Marcotrigiano

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Mediterranean Sea ◽

Subcellular Distribution ◽

Tursiops Truncatus ◽

Stenella Coeruleoalba ◽

The Mediterranean

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Feeding ecology of striped dolphins, Stenella coeruleoalba, in the north-western Mediterranean Sea based on stable isotope analyses

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315411001457 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 92 (8) ◽

pp. 1677-1687 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

A.M. Meissner ◽

C.D. MacLeod ◽

P. Richard ◽

V. Ridoux ◽

G. Pierce

Keyword(s):

Stable Isotope ◽

Mediterranean Sea ◽

Trophic Level ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Stenella Coeruleoalba ◽

The North ◽

Western Mediterranean Sea ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Isotope Analyses ◽

North Western

The feeding ecology of striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba, in the north-western Mediterranean Sea was studied using stable isotope analyses. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios were measured in skin and muscle tissues of stranded and by-caught dolphins from six geographical areas in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Variation in δ15N in relation to dolphin size is attributed to changes in diet. Nursing calves have a higher trophic level than weaned animals and their δ15N values decrease progressively until weaning, estimated to be at a body length of around 155 cm. δ15N values then increased for larger individuals which suggests changes in diet for mature dolphins. Geographical differences in diet were apparent between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, although no clear differences were apparent between the five Mediterranean areas. Comparisons of the nitrogen isotope ratios of skin and muscle highlighted a higher fractionation in skin compared to the muscle tissue. Values of δ13C also increased with body length although it appears that this is not only driven by trophic level enrichment. δ13C increases before weaning and the difference in trophic level between newly-weaned and mature dolphins was twice as high for carbon as for nitrogen. Ontogenetic changes in carbon isotope composition may therefore be driven by feeding on deep water prey and dolphin movements outside the coastal feeding grounds. Indeed, seasonal variations in δ13C are suspected to be driven by migration within the Mediterranean basin.

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