Dear MARMAM community, on behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce the publication of our recent study: "Density and Abundance of *Delphinus delphis* in Waters South of Samos Island, Greece (Eastern Mediterranean Sea)"
Pietroluongo, G.; Cipriano, G.; Ashok, K.; Antichi, S.; Carlier, H.; Miliou, A.; Maglietta, R.; Fanizza, C.; Carlucci, R. Density and Abundance of *Delphinus delphis* in Waters South of Samos Island, Greece (Eastern Mediterranean Sea). Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 2020, 8, 218. doi:10.3390/jmse8030218 *ABSTRACT*The Mediterranean subpopulation of short-beaked common dolphin *Delphinus delphis* is ranked as endangered on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List because it has sharply declined during the last decades, resulting in sparse and decreasing populations. Monitoring the conservation status of this endangered dolphin species is particularly relevant to fulfil targets under the range of several international agreements. Moreover, estimating the abundance of *D. delphis* is essential to verify the effectiveness of conservation action to maintain safe population levels in the Mediterranean Sea and to suggest appropriate modifications to limit potential threats. In this regard, a monitoring program of the short-beaked common dolphin in Samos Island (Greece) was carried out from 2016 to 2019, adopting a random line transect sampling method. The overall density and abundance estimates of *D. delphis*, obtained by applying conventional distance sampling (CDS) on sighting data, were 0.15 individuals/km2 (CV = 13.27%; 95% CI = 0.11–0.19 individuals/km2) and 51 individuals (CV = 13.27%; 95% CI = 40-66 individuals), respectively. Although a longer time series of sighting data should be collected and a larger area should be investigated to better understand the population trend of *D. delphis* and its residency pattern, the results contribute to setting up a baseline reference for future assessment of its population in the Eastern Aegean Sea. The article is available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/3/218/htm Please, feel free to contact me for any inquiries. With my warmest wishes in these uncertain days Dr Guido Pietroluongo Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, Greece www.archipelago.gr [email protected] [email protected] [image: Archipelagos]
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