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Cetacean encounters around the island of Montserrat (Caribbean Sea) during 2007 and 2010, including new species state records

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 May 2011

Caroline R. Weir ,
Susannah Calderan ,
Michael Unwin  and
Michele Paulatto
Caroline R. Weir*
Affiliation:
Ketos Ecology, 44 Lord Hay's Grove, Aberdeen, AB24 1WS, UK
Susannah Calderan
Affiliation:
1, Forestry, Aros, Isle of Mull, PA72 6JS, UK
Michael Unwin
Affiliation:
163 High Road, Leavesden, Watford, Herts, WD25 7DU, UK
Michele Paulatto
Affiliation:
National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, University of Southampton, European Way, SO15 5DL, UK
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: C. Weir, Ketos Ecology, 44 Lord Hay's Grove, Aberdeen, AB24 1WS, UK email: Caroline.Weir@ketosecology.co.uk
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Abstract

A total of 168.4 hours of visual cetacean survey work was carried out in association with two geophysical surveys in Montserrat waters (eastern Caribbean) during December 2007 and May 2010, using a seismic vessel as a platform of opportunity. Nine cetacean sightings were recorded: pantropical spotted dolphin Stenella attenuata (N = 2), Fraser's dolphin Lagenodelphis hosei (N = 1), sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus (N = 1), humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae (N = 1), and sightings of unidentified dolphins (N = 1) and large whales (N = 3). A total of 73.3 hours of acoustic monitoring effort was carried out during December 2007, resulting in 19 cetacean detections. Sperm whale (N = 10) and unidentified dolphin (N = 7) detections predominated. Two acoustic detections were of pantropical spotted dolphins, corresponding with visual sightings. An opportunistic sighting of 14 pygmy killer whales Feresa attenuata during October 2008 was reported. Although the humpback whale was known previously for Montserrat waters, the sightings of other species represent the first verified records for the state.

Keywords

Fraser's dolphinhumpback whalepantropical spotted dolphinpygmy killer whalesperm whaleMontserratdistribution
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 4 , December 2011 , e42
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2011

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