Testing indicators for trend assessment of range and habitat of low-density cetacean species in the Mediterranean Sea
IntroductionConservation of cetaceans is challenging due to their large-range, highly-dynamic nature. The EU Habitats Directive (HD) reports 78% of species in ‘unknown’ conservation status, and information on low-density/elusive species such G.griseus, G.melas, Z.cavirostris is the most scattered.Me...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-05-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1116829/full |
| _version_ | 1797820492703334400 |
|---|---|
| author | Antonella Arcangeli Fabrizio Atzori Marta Azzolin Marta Azzolin Lucy Babey Ilaria Campana Ilaria Campana Lara Carosso Roberto Crosti Odei Garcia-Garin Martina Gregorietti Arianna Orasi Alessia Scuderi Alessia Scuderi Paola Tepsich Morgana Vighi Léa David |
| author_facet | Antonella Arcangeli Fabrizio Atzori Marta Azzolin Marta Azzolin Lucy Babey Ilaria Campana Ilaria Campana Lara Carosso Roberto Crosti Odei Garcia-Garin Martina Gregorietti Arianna Orasi Alessia Scuderi Alessia Scuderi Paola Tepsich Morgana Vighi Léa David |
| author_sort | Antonella Arcangeli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionConservation of cetaceans is challenging due to their large-range, highly-dynamic nature. The EU Habitats Directive (HD) reports 78% of species in ‘unknown’ conservation status, and information on low-density/elusive species such G.griseus, G.melas, Z.cavirostris is the most scattered.MethodsThe FLT-Net programme has regularly collected year-round data along trans-border fixed-transects in the Mediterranean Sea since 2007. Nearly 7,500 cetacean sightings were recorded over 500,000 km of effort with 296 of less-common species. Comparing data across two HD 6-years periods (2013-2019/2008-2012), this study aimed at testing four potential indicators to assess range and habitat short-term trends of G.griseus, G.melas, Z.cavirostris: 1) change in Observed Distributional Range-ODR based on known occurrence, calculated through the Kernel smoother within the effort area; 2) change in Ecological Potential Range-EPR extent, predicted through Spatial Distribution Models; 3) Range Pattern, assessed as overlap and shift of core areas between periods; 4) changes in ODR vs EPR.ResultsMost ODR and EPR confirmed the persistence of known important sites, especially in the Western-Mediterranean. All species, however, exhibit changes in the distribution extent (contraction or expansion) and an offshore shift, possibly indicating exploitation of new areas or avoidance of more impacted ones.DiscussionResults confirmed that the ODR could underestimate the real occupied range, as referring to the effort area only; it can be used to detect trends providing that the spatio-temporal effort scale is representative of species range. The EPR allows generalising species distribution outside the effort area, defining species’ Habitat and the Occupied/Potential Range proportion. To investigate range-trends, EPR needs to be adjusted based also on the Occupied/Potential Range proportion since it could be larger than the occupied range in presence of limiting factors, or smaller, if anthropogenic pressures force the species outside the ecological niche.ConclusionUsing complementary indicators proved valuable to evaluate the significance of changes. The concurrent analysis of more species with similar ecology was also critical to assess whether the detected changes are species-specific or representative of broader trends. The FLT-Net sampling strategy proved adequate for trend assessment in the Western-Mediterranean and Adriatic basins, while more transects are needed to characterize the Central-Mediterranean and Aegean-Levantine ecological variability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T09:39:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-127a77e41f5542e1a38f783b1392cb8a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T09:39:06Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-127a77e41f5542e1a38f783b1392cb8a2023-05-25T04:29:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452023-05-011010.3389/fmars.2023.11168291116829Testing indicators for trend assessment of range and habitat of low-density cetacean species in the Mediterranean SeaAntonella Arcangeli0Fabrizio Atzori1Marta Azzolin2Marta Azzolin3Lucy Babey4Ilaria Campana5Ilaria Campana6Lara Carosso7Roberto Crosti8Odei Garcia-Garin9Martina Gregorietti10Arianna Orasi11Alessia Scuderi12Alessia Scuderi13Paola Tepsich14Morgana Vighi15Léa David16ISPRA, ltalian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Roma, ItalyMarine Protected Area Capo Carbonara, Villasimius, CA, ItalyDepartment of Life and System Biology, University of Torino, Torino, ItalyMilokopi Biodiversity Lab (20300 Perachora, Greece), Gaia Research Institute, Torino, ItalyORCA, Brittany Centre, Portsmouth, United KingdomDepartment of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Ichthyogenic Experimental Marine Center (CISMAR), Tuscia University, Tarquinia, VT, ItalyAccademia del Leviatano, Maccarese, RM, ItalyMarine Protected Area Capo Carbonara, Villasimius, CA, ItalyISPRA, ltalian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Roma, ItalyDepartment of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, and Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Earth and Marine Science (DISTEM), University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyISPRA, ltalian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Roma, Italy0Research Group on Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Marine and Environmental Science Faculty, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain1Association Nereide, Cádiz, Spain2Centro Internazionale in Monitoraggio Ambientale (CIMA) Research Foundation, Savona, ItalyDepartment of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, and Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain3EcoOcean Institut, Montpellier, FranceIntroductionConservation of cetaceans is challenging due to their large-range, highly-dynamic nature. The EU Habitats Directive (HD) reports 78% of species in ‘unknown’ conservation status, and information on low-density/elusive species such G.griseus, G.melas, Z.cavirostris is the most scattered.MethodsThe FLT-Net programme has regularly collected year-round data along trans-border fixed-transects in the Mediterranean Sea since 2007. Nearly 7,500 cetacean sightings were recorded over 500,000 km of effort with 296 of less-common species. Comparing data across two HD 6-years periods (2013-2019/2008-2012), this study aimed at testing four potential indicators to assess range and habitat short-term trends of G.griseus, G.melas, Z.cavirostris: 1) change in Observed Distributional Range-ODR based on known occurrence, calculated through the Kernel smoother within the effort area; 2) change in Ecological Potential Range-EPR extent, predicted through Spatial Distribution Models; 3) Range Pattern, assessed as overlap and shift of core areas between periods; 4) changes in ODR vs EPR.ResultsMost ODR and EPR confirmed the persistence of known important sites, especially in the Western-Mediterranean. All species, however, exhibit changes in the distribution extent (contraction or expansion) and an offshore shift, possibly indicating exploitation of new areas or avoidance of more impacted ones.DiscussionResults confirmed that the ODR could underestimate the real occupied range, as referring to the effort area only; it can be used to detect trends providing that the spatio-temporal effort scale is representative of species range. The EPR allows generalising species distribution outside the effort area, defining species’ Habitat and the Occupied/Potential Range proportion. To investigate range-trends, EPR needs to be adjusted based also on the Occupied/Potential Range proportion since it could be larger than the occupied range in presence of limiting factors, or smaller, if anthropogenic pressures force the species outside the ecological niche.ConclusionUsing complementary indicators proved valuable to evaluate the significance of changes. The concurrent analysis of more species with similar ecology was also critical to assess whether the detected changes are species-specific or representative of broader trends. The FLT-Net sampling strategy proved adequate for trend assessment in the Western-Mediterranean and Adriatic basins, while more transects are needed to characterize the Central-Mediterranean and Aegean-Levantine ecological variability.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1116829/fullmonitoringconservationhabitat modelingRisso’s dolphinlong-finned pilot whaleCuvier’s beaked whale |
| spellingShingle | Antonella Arcangeli Fabrizio Atzori Marta Azzolin Marta Azzolin Lucy Babey Ilaria Campana Ilaria Campana Lara Carosso Roberto Crosti Odei Garcia-Garin Martina Gregorietti Arianna Orasi Alessia Scuderi Alessia Scuderi Paola Tepsich Morgana Vighi Léa David Testing indicators for trend assessment of range and habitat of low-density cetacean species in the Mediterranean Sea Frontiers in Marine Science monitoring conservation habitat modeling Risso’s dolphin long-finned pilot whale Cuvier’s beaked whale |
| title | Testing indicators for trend assessment of range and habitat of low-density cetacean species in the Mediterranean Sea |
| title_full | Testing indicators for trend assessment of range and habitat of low-density cetacean species in the Mediterranean Sea |
| title_fullStr | Testing indicators for trend assessment of range and habitat of low-density cetacean species in the Mediterranean Sea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Testing indicators for trend assessment of range and habitat of low-density cetacean species in the Mediterranean Sea |
| title_short | Testing indicators for trend assessment of range and habitat of low-density cetacean species in the Mediterranean Sea |
| title_sort | testing indicators for trend assessment of range and habitat of low density cetacean species in the mediterranean sea |
| topic | monitoring conservation habitat modeling Risso’s dolphin long-finned pilot whale Cuvier’s beaked whale |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1116829/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT antonellaarcangeli testingindicatorsfortrendassessmentofrangeandhabitatoflowdensitycetaceanspeciesinthemediterraneansea AT fabrizioatzori testingindicatorsfortrendassessmentofrangeandhabitatoflowdensitycetaceanspeciesinthemediterraneansea AT martaazzolin testingindicatorsfortrendassessmentofrangeandhabitatoflowdensitycetaceanspeciesinthemediterraneansea AT martaazzolin testingindicatorsfortrendassessmentofrangeandhabitatoflowdensitycetaceanspeciesinthemediterraneansea AT lucybabey testingindicatorsfortrendassessmentofrangeandhabitatoflowdensitycetaceanspeciesinthemediterraneansea AT ilariacampana testingindicatorsfortrendassessmentofrangeandhabitatoflowdensitycetaceanspeciesinthemediterraneansea AT ilariacampana testingindicatorsfortrendassessmentofrangeandhabitatoflowdensitycetaceanspeciesinthemediterraneansea AT laracarosso testingindicatorsfortrendassessmentofrangeandhabitatoflowdensitycetaceanspeciesinthemediterraneansea AT robertocrosti testingindicatorsfortrendassessmentofrangeandhabitatoflowdensitycetaceanspeciesinthemediterraneansea AT odeigarciagarin testingindicatorsfortrendassessmentofrangeandhabitatoflowdensitycetaceanspeciesinthemediterraneansea AT martinagregorietti testingindicatorsfortrendassessmentofrangeandhabitatoflowdensitycetaceanspeciesinthemediterraneansea AT ariannaorasi testingindicatorsfortrendassessmentofrangeandhabitatoflowdensitycetaceanspeciesinthemediterraneansea AT alessiascuderi testingindicatorsfortrendassessmentofrangeandhabitatoflowdensitycetaceanspeciesinthemediterraneansea AT alessiascuderi testingindicatorsfortrendassessmentofrangeandhabitatoflowdensitycetaceanspeciesinthemediterraneansea AT paolatepsich testingindicatorsfortrendassessmentofrangeandhabitatoflowdensitycetaceanspeciesinthemediterraneansea AT morganavighi testingindicatorsfortrendassessmentofrangeandhabitatoflowdensitycetaceanspeciesinthemediterraneansea AT leadavid testingindicatorsfortrendassessmentofrangeandhabitatoflowdensitycetaceanspeciesinthemediterraneansea |