TITLE:
Spatial and Temporal Baseline Information on Marine Megafauna-Data Facilitated by a Wildlife Tour Operator
AUTHORS:
Marijke Nita de Boer, Duncan Jones, Hannah Jones, Rebecca Knee
KEYWORDS:
Marine Megafauna, Platform of Opportunity, Research monitoring, Cornwall
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Marine Science,
Vol.8 No.1,
January
23,
2018
ABSTRACT: The protection of marine megafauna within Europe is rather fragmented. Developing
conservation measures for highly mobile species presents definite
challenges, particularly due to the many knowledge gaps. Recent studies have
shown that these gaps can be filled in by Platforms of Opportunity (PO)
which create low-cost approaches. However, the number of wildlife tour operators
actively collecting PO data related to distribution and relative abundance
of marine fauna remains limited. In this study, we investigated whether
effort-corrected data on marine megafauna facilitated by a wildlife tour operator
afforded robust long temporal data (2011-2015). Sightings data, collected
in the wider Mount’s Bay area (southwest Cornwall, UK), along with a GPS
application, were collected to accurately record survey effort. In addition, radial
sighting distances and detection curves were computed to explore the robustness
of the data. Density maps of marine megafauna indicated that encounters
occurred throughout the area in all three seasons but the temporal
distribution was significantly different with numbers peaking in autumn.
Odontocetes were mostly recorded during autumn, basking shark (Cetorhinus
maximus) and ocean sunfish (Mola mola) were more abundant during summer
and leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) were recorded occasionally.
Our data showed that this shallow coastal environment is particularly
important as a nursing area for harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena).
Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) showed a high semi-residency pattern for
adults with calves within one core-habitat. As such, the study provides important
spatial and temporal baseline data that are essential for the protection
of marine megafauna through the development of an ecological network of
marine protected areas within UK waters. Although, data facilitated by wildlife operators have certain shortcomings we highlight that the protocols developed
here secured efficient and precise data. Such collection protocols can be
implemented on a larger scale, ultimately enhancing research monitoring efforts
and marine ecosystem management.