English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

The Mediterranean sub-population of short-beaked common dolphin is believed to have suffered a steep decline in the Mediterranean in recent years, and in 2003 it was listed as endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Effective conservation will depend critically on our understanding of the relationship between the species and its habitats. The Alboran Sea is believed to be the most important remaining Mediterranean habitat for this species, and thus consti- tutes a vital source of information for the development of conservation measures. We used spatial modelling to estimate the abundance and explore the habitat use of common dolphins in this area, examining regional, seasonal and interannual variations, as well as the influence of biological factors such as presence of calves, interspecific relationships and behaviour. From 1992 to 2004, 37 385 km of non-systematic line transects generated 738 sightings in a 19 189 km 2 study area. The point esti- mate of abundance was 19 428 (95% CI = 15 277 to 22 804) dolphins. Seasonal and geographical vari- ations in abundance were detected, with higher average density in summer than in winter, and in the Western Alboran Sea than in the east Gulf of Vera, which has different physical/environmental char- acteristics. No overall trend in abundance was observed in the Alboran area. However, a decline was observed in the Gulf of Vera, with a summer density 3-fold lower in the period from 1996 to 2004 than in 1992 to 1995. A potential link of this decline with prey depletion due to the exponential growth of aquaculture in the area is discussed. Clear differences in habitat use were also found when examin- ing the influence of biological factors. In particular, groups with calves and groups that were feeding preferred more coastal waters. This result could have important implications for the development of conservation measures for this species in the Mediterranean.

endangered species research

Abundance and habitat preferences of the short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis in the southwestern Mediterranean: implications for conservation