Dear colleagues,
on behalf of all authors, I like to announce the publication of the
following new paper in Biological Conservation:
*Basin-scale distribution of harbour porpoises in the Baltic Sea
provides basis for effective conservation actions*
Ida Carlén, Len Thomas, Julia Carlström, Mats Amundin, Jonas Teilmann,
Nick Tregenza, Jakob Tougaard, Jens C. Koblitz, Signe Sveegaard, Daniel
Wennerberg, Olli Loisa, Michael Dähne, Katharina Brundiers, Monika
Kosecka, Line Anker Kyhn, Cinthia Tiberi Ljungqvist, Iwona Pawliczka,
Radomil Koza, Bartlomiej Arciszewski, Anders Galatius, Martin Jabbusch,
Jussi Laaksonlaita, Jussi Niemi, Sami Lyytinen, Anja Gallus, Harald
Benke, Penina Blankett, Krzysztof E. Skóra, Alejandro Acevedo-Gutiérrez
Biological Conservation, Volume 226
<https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezp.sub.su.se/science/journal/00063207/226/supp/C>,
October 2018, Pages 42-53
/Abstract:/ Knowledge on spatial and seasonal distribution of species is
crucial when designing protected areas and implementing management
actions. The Baltic Proper harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)
population is critically endangered, and its distribution is virtually
unknown. Here, we used passive acoustic monitoring and species
distribution models to describe the spatial and seasonal distribution of
harbour porpoises in the Baltic Proper. Porpoise click detectors were
deployed over a systematic grid of 297 stations in eight countries from
April 2011 through July 2013. Generalized additive models were used to
describe the monthly probability of detecting porpoise clicks as a
function of spatially-referenced covariates and time. During the
reproductive season, two main areas of high probability of porpoise
detection were identified. One of those areas, situated on and around
the offshore banks in the Baltic Proper, is clearly separated from the
known distribution range of the Belt Sea population during breeding
season, suggesting this is an important breeding ground for the Baltic
Proper population. We commend the designation of this area as a marine
protected area and recommend Baltic Sea countries to also protect areas
in the southern Baltic Sea and the Hanö Bight where additional important
harbour porpoise habitats were identified. Further conservation measures
should be carried out based on analyses of overlap between harbour
porpoise distribution and potentially harmful anthropogenic activities.
Our study shows that large-scale systematic monitoring using novel
techniques can give important insights on the distribution of
low-density populations, and that international cooperation is pivotal
when studying transnationally migratory species.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2018.06.031
<https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2018.06.031>
Free download through this link until 14 September:
https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1XSBU1R~e720P
<https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1XSBU1R%7Ee720P>
Or just contact me and I will happily provide you with the PDF.
Best regards from the SAMBAH team :)
--
Dr. Jens C. Koblitz
BioAcousticsNetwork
Eichenallee 32 a
41469 Neuss
Germany
Cell: +49 (0) 1512-2236452
www.BioAcousticsNetwork.org
