scholarly journals Patterns and Trends in Cetacean Occurrence Revealed by Shorewatch, a Land-Based Citizen Science Program in Scotland (United Kingdom)

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Gutiérrez-Muñoz ◽  
Alice E. M. Walters ◽  
Sarah J. Dolman ◽  
Graham J. Pierce
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
West Coast ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Minke Whale ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Harbor Porpoise ◽  
The West ◽  
Cetacean Species ◽  
Risso's Dolphin

Shorewatch is a citizen science project, managed by Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), that records the occurrence of cetaceans during regular, standardized watches from a series of locations along the coast of Scotland (United Kingdom). Observer training and a clearly defined protocol help deliver a valuable source of information about cetacean occurrence and activity along the coast. Between 2005–2018, over 52000 watches generated over 11000 sightings of at least 18 cetacean species. Generalized Additive Models based on sightings for the five most commonly sighted species (bottlenose dolphin, harbor porpoise, minke whale, Risso’s dolphin, and common dolphin), at those sites with the longest time series, demonstrated seasonal, geographical and year-to-year differences in their local occurrence and relative abundance. Bottlenose dolphins are mainly present at observation sites located on the east coast of Scotland, being uncommon on the west coast, while harbor porpoise and minke whale are principally present at sites located on the west coast. The seasonality observed in cetacean occurrence is consistent with peak abundance in summer months described by previous studies in the area. Mean depth around the observation sites is the static variable that apparently has the greatest influence on species presence and number of sightings, except for Risso’s dolphin. All the species except bottlenose dolphin showed upward trends in occurrence and number of sightings over the period 2012–2018. Evidence of temporal autocorrelation was found between results from consecutive watches at the same site on the same day as well as between results from consecutive days at the same site. The power to detect declines in local abundance over a 6-year period depends on the underlying sighting rate of each cetacean species, the number of watches performed and the rate of decline. Simulations performed to determine the power to detect a decline suggest that the current intensity of observation effort in some observation sites, of about 2500 watches per year, may offer good prospects of detecting a 30% decline of the most frequently sighted species (95% of the time) over a 6-year period, although a more even distribution of observation effort in space and time is desirable. The data could potentially be used for monitoring and 6-yearly reporting of the status of cetacean populations.

Bass nurseries on the west coast of the U.K.

1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 439-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donovan Kelley
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
West Coast ◽  
Dicentrarchus Labrax ◽  
The South ◽  
The West ◽  
The United Kingdom

INTRODUCTIONPresence of O-group bass, Dicentrarchus labrax (L.), has been recorded for a number of estuaries and tidal backwaters in the south of the United Kingdom, including the tidal Thames (Wheeler, 1979), the outer Thames at Southend (Murie, 1903), the Medway (Van den Broek, 1979), Langstone Harbour (Reay, 1973), the Dart (Dando & Demir, 1985), and the Tamar (Hartley, 1940). The author has found them, additionally, in Chichester Harbour and in the Cuckmere (Sussex), Teign and Tavy estuaries. Correspondents have reported them from the estuaries of the Blackwater (Cox), Crouch (Wiggins), Lynher (Gee) and Fal (Melhuish); also from the Fleet backwater in Dorset (Fear). It may be inferred that all estuaries and tidal backwaters on the south and south-east coasts of the U.K. constitute bass nurseries, in some degree.*

Chitin localisation and retention in the exit tubes of the holocarpic oomycete Anisolpidium rosenvingei

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frithjof Christian Küpper ◽  
Kyle Fletcher ◽  
Ingo Maier
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
West Coast ◽  
First Record ◽  
The West ◽  
Exit Tube ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Phylogenetic Implications ◽  
Brown Macroalga

Abstract The finding of the enigmatic pathogen Anisolpidium rosenvingei in the filamentous brown macroalga Pylaiella littoralis presented a unique opportunity to histochemically study the distribution of chitin in this little-known pathogen using FUNGALASE™-F, a fluorescein-labelled chitinase. Chitin was found localised to the exit tube of this pathogen, which infects exclusively reproductive cells of its host. The cytological and phylogenetic implications of this finding are discussed. This paper also reports the first record of this pathogen in the United Kingdom, on the west coast of Scotland.

A survey of public awareness of the occurrence and diversity of cetaceans in south-west Scotland

2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 1101-1104 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.J. Scott ◽  
E.C.M. Parsons
Keyword(s):  
Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Minke Whale ◽  
Harbour Porpoise ◽  
Common Dolphin ◽  
Cetacean Species ◽  
The Public ◽  
South West ◽  
Tourism Professionals ◽  
Level Of Knowledge

In summer 2001, members of the public in south-west Scotland were interviewed to determine their knowledge of the diversity and occurrence of cetaceans in the region. Interviews were conducted in both rural island and coastal communities and a major city.The majority of interviewees (46%) underestimated the number of cetacean species occurring in western Scottish waters (i.e. <10 species). Only 4·4% gave the correct answer (24). Location of the participant affected the level of knowledge. Photographs were presented of the four most commonly occurring cetacean species: only 30·2% correctly identified one or more of the species. The species most frequently identified correctly was the bottlenose dolphin (19% of interviewees) followed by the harbour porpoise (17·5%), minke whale (10·7%) and, lastly, the common dolphin (7·1%).Interviewees were also asked whether certain cetacean species occurred in local waters or not. The level of awareness was generally low. The most common positive answers involved the bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise, and minke whale. Only one in five were aware of killer whales and 13·1% believed that grey whales occurred in Scottish waters. Knowledge of species occurrence showed statistically significant relationships with age, gender, level of environmental interest and location, but not occupation (teachers, tourism professionals and marine stakeholders did not show greater levels of cetacean knowledge). The study identified target groups and locations where knowledge of cetaceans is low and environmental education efforts should be concentrated.

Cetacean diversity at the west coast of La Palma Island (Canary Islands)

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (6) ◽  
pp. 1289-1296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Pérez-Vallazza ◽  
Rosana Álvarez-Vázquez ◽  
Laura Cardona ◽  
Clara Pintado ◽  
Joaquín Hernández-Brito
Keyword(s):  
West Coast ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
The West ◽  
Cetacean Species ◽  
Stenella Frontalis ◽  
La Palma ◽  
Ecological Features ◽  
Time Position ◽  
Government Data ◽  
Conservation Plans

Little is known about cetacean communities around La Palma Island. Therefore, and in order to determine the presence and distribution of the cetacean species on its west coast, daily censuses were carried out from November 2003 to April 2005. The platform used was a whale watching vessel certified by the Canary Government. Data collected included time, position, species identity, group size and, in some cases, the presence of calves and/or any other outstanding parameter. During the study period, 570 sightings were made, with a mean sighting success of 1.7 sightings per day, showing a high cetacean presence in the area. Thirteen species and one genus (Globicephala spp.) were positively matched, three of them included in the Mysticeti suborder and the other ten in the Odontoceti one. The four most sighted species, in decreasing order, correspond to Tursiops truncatus, Steno bredanensis, Globicephala spp. and Stenella frontalis. Diversity of sighted species shows a moderate peak during spring time, which is in agreement with the presence of occasional species. Most sightings were located off the central west coast of the island, exceeding 1.5 nautical miles. This is particularly outstanding in relation to Franja Marina de Fuencaliente SCI, where 90% of all sightings were located outside its boundaries. High cetacean presence and diversity off the west coast of La Palma Island seem to be connected with oceanographic and ecological features. Results gained provide, for this region, baseline data on cetacean populations and a useful tool in conservation plans.

Mandibular osteomyelitis in the bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821) (Odontoceti: Cetacea): first case in the Mexican Caribbean

Mammalia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 83 (6) ◽  
pp. 562-566
Author(s):  
Carlos Alberto Niño-Torres ◽  
Delma Nataly Castelblanco-Martínez ◽  
María del Pilar Blanco-Parra ◽  
Roberto Sánchez Okrucky
Keyword(s):  
Adult Male ◽  
West Coast ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
The West ◽  
Pathological Conditions ◽  
First Case ◽  
Mexican Caribbean ◽  
Free Ranging

AbstractOral pathological conditions are common in mammals and have been relatively well documented for some wild groups, but are rarely reported in marine mammals. Here, we report for the Mexican Caribbean the first case of mandibular osteomyelitis in a free-ranging dolphin. A bottlenose dolphinTursiops truncatusadult male (256.5 cm total length) was found stranded dead in the west coast of the State Reserve “Chetumal Bay Manatee Sanctuary”. Herein, we discuss some plausible explanations about the origin of this lesion to improve the knowledge about the species biology.

The tidal range energy potential of the West Coast of the United Kingdom

2009 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 229-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Burrows ◽  
I.A. Walkington ◽  
N.C. Yates ◽  
T.S. Hedges ◽  
J. Wolf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
West Coast ◽  
Tidal Range ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
The West ◽  
The United Kingdom

Cetacean sightings and strandings: evidence for spatial and temporal trends?

2011 ◽  
Vol 92 (8) ◽  
pp. 1809-1820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen K. Pikesley ◽  
Mathew J. Witt ◽  
Tom Hardy ◽  
Jan Loveridge ◽  
Jeff Loveridge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Minke Whale ◽  
Harbour Porpoise ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
North Coast ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Common Dolphin ◽  
Cetacean Species ◽  
Key Species

Cetacean species and their habitats are under threat and effective marine management mitigation strategies require knowledge and understanding of cetacean ecology. This requires data that are challenging and expensive to obtain; incidental sightings/strandings data are potential underused resources. In this study, incidental cetacean sightings (N = 6631) and strandings (N = 1856) in coastal waters of Cornwall, south-west Britain (1991 to 2008) were analysed for evidence of spatial and temporal patterns or trends. Eighteen species were recorded sighted and/or stranded; key species were identified as bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) and minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). There were significant decreases in bottlenose dolphin sightings and pod size but an increase in harbour porpoise and minke whale sightings. Cetacean strandings showed a recent decrease over time although there was a significant positive trend in harbour porpoise strandings that correlated with sightings. Incidence of sightings and strandings were both greater on the south coast than the north coast. When Marine Tour Operator data were analysed, distinct species-specific inshore and offshore habitat use was evident. With rigorous interrogation and editing, significant patterns and trends were gained from incidentally collected data, highlighting the importance of public engagement with such recording schemes and the potential of these underused resources.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document