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Distribution and abundance of common bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus ) over the French Mediterranean continental shelf
Author(s) -
Labach Hélène,
Azzinari Caroline,
Barbier Maxime,
Cesarini Cathy,
Daniel Boris,
David Léa,
Dhermain Frank,
DiMéglio Nathalie,
Guichard Benjamin,
Jourdan Julie,
Lauret Valentin,
Robert Nicolas,
Roul Marine,
Tomasi Nicolas,
Gimenez Olivier
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
marine mammal science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.723
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1748-7692
pISSN - 0824-0469
DOI - 10.1111/mms.12874
Subject(s) - bottlenose dolphin , continental shelf , fishery , mediterranean climate , marine strategy framework directive , mediterranean sea , habitats directive , context (archaeology) , geography , marine protected area , population , cetacea , conservation status , european union , habitat , biology , ecology , archaeology , demography , ecosystem , sociology , economic policy , business
The common bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus ) subpopulation in the Mediterranean is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This species is strictly protected in France and the designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) is required under the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). However, little information is available about the structure and dynamics of bottlenose dolphins in French Mediterranean waters. We collected photo‐identification data over the whole French Mediterranean continental shelf year‐round between 2013 and 2015. We sighted 151 groups of bottlenose dolphins allowing the individual photo‐identification of 766 animals. The encounter rate distribution showed the presence of bottlenose dolphins over the whole continental shelf year‐round. We estimated for the first time, using capture‐recapture methods, the size of this bottlenose dolphin population at 2,350 individuals, 95% credible interval [1,827, 3,135]. Our results were used in support of the designation of a new dedicated SAC in the Gulf of Lion and provide a baseline for the bottlenose dolphin monitoring in the French Mediterranean waters in the context of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.