The following paper became available on-line in /Deep Sea Research I/:
Inter-basin movements of Mediterranean sperm whales provide insight
into their population structure and conservation
*A. Frantzis, S. Airoldi, G. Notarbartolo-di-Sciara, C. Johnson
and S. Mazzariol*
/Deep-Sea Research I /58 (2011) 454--459.
doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2011.02.005
*Abstract: *The sperm whale is one of the very few deep diving mammal
species in the Mediterranean Sea. Following a rare mass stranding of
male sperm whales in the Adriatic Sea in December 2009, photoidentification
methods were used in order to investigate previous sightings of the
stranded whales in the region. Fluke photos of the stranded whales were
compared with those of 153 and 128 free-ranging individuals photographed
in the western and eastern Mediterranean basins, respectively. Three out
of the seven stranded whales had been previously photo-identified and
some of them more than once. To reach the stranding place, two of these
re-identified whales performed long-range inter-basin movements of about
1600--2100 km (in a straight line) either through the Strait of Sicily
or the Strait of Messina. In addition, comparisons among all whales
photographed in the two Mediterranean basins revealed that one more
individual first photographed in the western basin (1991) was
re-identified 13 years later in the eastern basin (2004). These three
cases provide the first conclusive evidence of interbasin movement of
sperm whales in the Mediterranean Sea. Inter-basin gene flow is
important for the survival of the small and endangered Mediterranean
sperm whale population. Mitigating the disturbance created by human
activities in the straits area is crucial for its conservation.
© 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
For those having access to Deep Sea Research I the link for full paper
download is:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2011.02.005
Otherwise please contact me for a copy at:[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
Best wishes (and hope to see some of you in Cadiz),
Alexandros
<mailto:[email protected]>
--
___________________________________________
Dr. Alexandros Frantzis
Scientific director
Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute
Terpsichoris 21
16671 Vouliagmeni,
GREECE
Tel.: +30-210-8960108
e-mail: [email protected]
website: http://www.pelagosinstitute.gr
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