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A note on the unprecedented strandings of 56 deep-diving whales along the UK and Irish coast

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 February 2010

Sarah J. Dolman ,
Eunice Pinn ,
Robert J. Reid ,
Jason P. Barley ,
Rob Deaville ,
Paul D. Jepson ,
Mick O'Connell ,
Simon Berrow ,
Rod S. Penrose  and
Peter T. Stevick
...Show all authors
Sarah J. Dolman*
Affiliation:
Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS), Brookfield House, 38 St Paul Street, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 1LJ, UK University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences, Zoology Department, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, Scotland, UK
Eunice Pinn
Affiliation:
Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), Dunnet House, 7 Thistle Place, Aberdeen, AB10 1UZ, Scotland, UK
Robert J. Reid
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College (SAC), Veterinary Services Division, Wildlife Unit, Drummondhill, Stratherrick Road, Inverness, IV2 4JZ, Scotland, UK
Jason P. Barley
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College (SAC), Veterinary Services Division, Wildlife Unit, Drummondhill, Stratherrick Road, Inverness, IV2 4JZ, Scotland, UK
Rob Deaville
Affiliation:
Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
Paul D. Jepson
Affiliation:
Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
Mick O'Connell
Affiliation:
Irish Whale & Dolphin Group (IWDG), Merchant's Quay, Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland, UK
Simon Berrow
Affiliation:
Irish Whale & Dolphin Group (IWDG), Merchant's Quay, Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland, UK
Rod S. Penrose
Affiliation:
Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP), Marine Environmental Monitoring, Penwalk, Llechryd, Cardigan, West Wales, SA43 2PS, UK
Peter T. Stevick
Affiliation:
Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust (HWDT), 28 Main Street, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, PA75 6NU, Scotland, UK
Susannah Calderan
Affiliation:
Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust (HWDT), 28 Main Street, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, PA75 6NU, Scotland, UK
Kevin P. Robinson
Affiliation:
Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU), PO Box 11307, Banff, AB45 3WB, Scotland, UK
Robert L. Brownell Jr
Affiliation:
Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries Service, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
Mark P. Simmonds
Affiliation:
Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS), Brookfield House, 38 St Paul Street, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 1LJ, UK
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: S.J. Dolman, University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences, Zoology Department, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, Scotland, UK email: sarah.dolman@wdcs.org
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Abstract

In the first seven months of 2008, eighteen Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris), four Sowerby's beaked whales (Mesoplodon bidens), five unidentified beaked whales and twenty-nine long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) were reported stranded in the UK and Ireland. Decomposition of those animals investigated puts the predicted time of death at mid-January. Concerns that an unusual mortality event had taken place prompted further investigations. Most carcasses were too decomposed for necropsy. A summary of findings is presented here. Although the initial stranding of five Cuvier's beaked whales in Scotland shared some similarities with atypical mass stranding events linked in time and space to mid-frequency naval sonars, there were two important differences with the remaining strandings during this period. First, the geographical range of the event was very wide and second, the strandings occurred over a prolonged period of several months. Both of these factors could be related to the fact that the mortalities occurred offshore and the carcasses drifted ashore. The cause(s) of this high number of strandings of mixed offshore cetacean species during this period remain undetermined.

Keywords

strandingsmonitoringconservationnoisenorth-east AtlanticEuropeCuvier's beaked whaleSowerby's beaked whalelong-finned pilot whale
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 3 , June 2010 , e16
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2010

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