On behalf of my co-authors, I am please do announce publication of our paper: 
Spatiotemporal variation in harbor porpoise distribution and foraging across a 
landscape of fear

Williamson, L. D., Scott, B. E., Laxton, M. R., Bachl, F. E., Illian, J. B., 
Brookes, K. L., & Thompson, P. M. (2021). Spatiotemporal variation in harbor 
porpoise distribution and foraging across a landscape of fear. Marine Mammal 
Science, 1- 16. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12839

Abstract: Understanding spatiotemporally varying animal distributions can 
inform ecological understanding of species' behavior (e.g., foraging and 
predator/prey interactions) and support development of management and 
conservation measures. Data from an array of echolocation-click detectors 
(C-PODs) were analyzed using Bayesian spatiotemporal modeling to investigate 
spatial and temporal variation in occurrence and foraging activity of harbor 
porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and how this variation was influenced by daylight 
and presence of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). The probability of 
occurrence of porpoises was highest on an offshore sandbank, where the 
proportion of detections with foraging clicks was relatively low. The 
porpoises' overall distribution shifted throughout the summer and autumn, 
likely influenced by seasonal prey availability. Probability of porpoise 
occurrence was lowest in areas close to the coast, where dolphin detections 
were highest and declined prior to dolphin detection, leading potentially to 
avoidance of spatiotemporal overlap between porpoises and dolphins. Increased 
understanding of porpoises' seasonal distribution, key foraging areas, and 
their relationship with competitors can shed light on management options and 
potential interactions with offshore industries.

This paper is open access and can be downloaded from: 
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mms.12839

Best wishes,
Laura


--
Dr. Laura Williamson
Senior Analyst
Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC)
Spott Road, Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42 1RR, Scotland, UK
M: +44 (0)7528 545 167
T: +44 (0)1368 865 722
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 www.osc.co.uk
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