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SMRU sperm whale distribution around the Balearic Islands 2003-2008
Citation
Pirotta, E., J. Matthiopoulos, M. Mackenzie, L. Scott-Hayward and L. Rendell. 2011. Modelling sperm whale habitat preference: a novel approach combining transect and follow data. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 436: 257-272. https://marineinfo.org/id/dataset/3350
Contact: Pirotta, Enrico ; Rendell, Luke

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Availability: Creative Commons License This dataset is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Description
In this study we develop a novel analytical framework that can make use of combined acoustic and tracking data and account for autocorrelation in such data. We use a multi-scale approach to investigate the pattern of sperm whale distribution around the Balearic archipelago, and the potential differences in habitat selection by single individuals versus groups. more

Sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus habitat preferences are still poorly understood in the Mediterranean, despite the population being classified as ‘Endangered’ by the IUCN. Techniques to make the best use of multiple data sources are important in improving this situation. This work provides a detailed evaluation of sperm whale distribution and habitat use around the Balearic Islands using a novel analytical framework that combines transect and follow data while accounting for any autocorrelation present. During dedicated research cruises (2003 to 2008), sperm whales were located by listening at regular intervals along a search track and subsequently followed acoustically. Sperm whales were encountered 56 times and followed for periods ranging from a few hours to 3 d. Logistic Generalized Additive Models were used to model the probability of whale presence across the study area as a function of environmental variables, and Generalized Estimating Equations were used to account for autocorrelation. The results suggest that sperm whales do not use the region uniformly and that topography plays a key role in shaping their distribution. Moreover, solitary individuals were found to use the habitat differently from groups. This segregation appeared to be driven by water temperature and might reflect different needs or intraspecific competition. By shedding light on sperm whale habitat preference in such a critical area, this study represents an important step towards the implementation of conservation measures for this population. Exact numbers for the presence of groups were not available, so an abundance of "2" was used as a conservative estimate. The sequences of consecutive presence points do not represent new animals being encountered, but follows of the same animals.

Scope
Themes:
Biology > Mammals
Keywords:
Marine/Coastal, Habitat selection, MED, Mediterranean, Cetacea, Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758

Geographical coverage
MED, Mediterranean [Marine Regions]

Temporal coverage
4 August 2003 - 26 July 2008

Taxonomic coverage
Cetacea [WoRMS]
Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758 [WoRMS]

Contributors
University of St Andrews; Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU), moredata owner
Pirotta, Enrico
Rendell, Luke

Related datasets
Published in:
EurOBIS: European Ocean Biodiversity Information System, more
OBIS-SEAMAP: Spatial Ecological Analysis of Megavertebrate Populations, more

Publication
Based on this dataset
Pirotta, E. et al. (2011). Modelling sperm whale habitat preference: a novel approach combining transect and follow data. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 436: 257-272. http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps09236


Dataset status: Completed
Data type: Data
Data origin: Research: field survey
Metadatarecord created: 2012-11-14
Information last updated: 2022-08-09
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