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Habitat use by iberian harbour porpoises: ecological and human factors

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Abstract

The Iberian harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena meridionalis) population faces unique challenges, characterized by low population size and limited genetic diversity, underscoring the urgency of conservation efforts. However, a dearth of ecological information on this population hampers targeted conservation measures. This study addresses this knowledge gap by assessing the environmental and anthropogenic factors influencing the habitat use of Iberian harbour porpoises. Utilizing data collected from 195 daily boat surveys spanning 8 years along the north-western coast of Spain, we observed 287 harbour porpoise groups comprising 1383 individuals. Our analysis revealed a wide distribution of harbour porpoises along the continental shelf of the north-western Iberian Peninsula. Notably, this species exhibited a preference for areas characterized by high productivity, influenced by seasonal coastal upwelling phenomena and tidal flow. Our results emphasize the positive correlation between the presence of fishing boats and porpoise habitat use, highlighting the risks associated with bycatch in gear such as bottom-set gillnets and trammel nets, and the need for comprehensive mitigation measures. Additionally, our findings underscore the necessity for comprehensive conservation strategies to address risks associated with marine traffic and habitat alteration due to the expanding development of offshore wind farms in the region. This research also establishes a baseline for future environmental monitoring programs, contributing to the long-term conservation and management of the Iberian harbour porpoise population.

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Data availability

Data is available in a public repository: Díaz López, Bruno; Methion, Séverine (2024), “Dataset: Habitat Use by Iberian Harbour Porpoises: Ecological and Human Factors”, Mendeley Data, V1, https://doi.org/10.17632/4rw7ssp3y8.1

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Acknowledgements

This research forms part of a long-term study supported by funding from the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute (www.thebdri.com). We express our gratitude to Oriol Giralt Paradell, Sara Simoes, Olga Mosca, Nathalie Dunel Roig, Joyce Neves, and the dedicated BDRI volunteers for their invaluable contributions to our marine biodiversity research campaigns conducted from 2014 to 2021. The campaigns during the last 2 years (2020 and 2021) were conducted under the BALAENATUR project in collaboration with the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge. We are also grateful for the annual authorizations provided by the Spanish Government, enabling our annual observation campaigns. Thank you to the editor and the two anonymous reviewers for contributions, which have enhanced the manuscript.

Funding

This research forms part of a long-term study supported by funding from the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute (www.thebdri.com).

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  1. The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute (BDRI), Avenida Beiramar 192, 36980, O Grove, Pontevedra, Spain

    Bruno Díaz López & Séverine Methion

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Bruno Díaz López conceived the research idea. Bruno Díaz López and Séverine Methion obtained funding, designed the field study, and collected field data. Bruno Díaz López analyzed the data. Bruno Díaz López wrote the manuscript with input from Séverine Methion. Bruno Díaz López and Séverine Methion reviewed, read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Bruno Díaz López.

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Díaz López, B., Methion, S. Habitat use by iberian harbour porpoises: ecological and human factors. Mar Biol 171, 113 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-024-04438-x

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