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Habitat overlap between bottlenose dolphins and seabirds: a pilot study to identify high-presence coastal areas in the Tyrrhenian Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 September 2015

Valentina Cafaro ,
Dario Angeletti ,
Bruno Bellisario ,
Armando Macali ,
Claudio Carere  and
Jessica Alessi
Valentina Cafaro
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze Ecologiche e Biologiche, Centro Ittiogenico Sperimentale Marino, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Borgo Le Saline, 01016 Tarquinia (VT), Italy
Dario Angeletti*
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze Ecologiche e Biologiche, Centro Ittiogenico Sperimentale Marino, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Borgo Le Saline, 01016 Tarquinia (VT), Italy
Bruno Bellisario
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze Ecologiche e Biologiche, Centro Ittiogenico Sperimentale Marino, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Borgo Le Saline, 01016 Tarquinia (VT), Italy
Armando Macali
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze Ecologiche e Biologiche, Centro Ittiogenico Sperimentale Marino, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Borgo Le Saline, 01016 Tarquinia (VT), Italy
Claudio Carere
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze Ecologiche e Biologiche, Centro Ittiogenico Sperimentale Marino, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Borgo Le Saline, 01016 Tarquinia (VT), Italy
Jessica Alessi
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita (DISTAV), Università degli Studi di Genova, Corso Europa, 26, 16132 Genova (GE), Italy Associazione Me.Ri.S. Mediterraneo Ricerca e Sviluppo, Via Milano 8, 92026 Favara (AG), Italy
*
Correspondence should be addressed to:D. Angeletti, Dipartimento di Scienze Ecologiche e Biologiche, Centro Ittiogenico Sperimentale Marino, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Borgo Le Saline, 01016 Tarquinia (VT), Italy. email: darioangeletti@unitus.it
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Abstract

The identification of foraging hotspots able to support the co-existence of multiple top predators provides a potential approach to addressing protection measures for marine ecosystems. In this study, we conducted visual surveys in the central Tyrrhenian Sea to determine areas with simultaneous presence of bottlenose dolphins, four species of seabirds (Audouin's gull, Yellow-legged gull, Yelkouan shearwater and Cory's shearwater), and baitballs occurring at the surface, indicating the presence of potential prey items. We also analysed their occurrence in relation to topography (depth, slope and distance from the shore) and seabed types. Kriging analysis identified areas with simultaneous presence of several marine top predators. Dolphin distribution appeared to be linked to gentle slope (6–10 m) and muddy seabed, possibly associated with prey distribution, whereas the four seabird species were more frequent in areas with a water depth of 100–150 m, gentle slope and muddy seabed, apart from Audouin's gull, which preferred a depth of 10–20 m. Baitball distribution was linked to depth (20–40 m), gentle slope (6–10 m) and muddy seabed. The overlapping presence of bottlenose dolphins, seabirds and baitballs allowed the identification of foraging areas, presumably representing biodiversity and productivity hotspots, located in waters of 50–100 m depth at the mouths of two rivers. This approach provides a promising tool for identifying highly productive coastal areas, and should also be recommended for wider-scale surveys.

Keywords

Bottlenose dolphinseabirdtop predatorhabitat overlaphabitat preference
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 96 , Issue 4: Marine Mammals , June 2016 , pp. 891 - 901
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2015 

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