0000000000515042
AUTHOR
A. Gómez De Segura
Preliminary patterns of distribution and abundance of loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta , around Columbretes Islands Marine Reserve, Spanish Mediterranean
Aerial surveys were conducted to estimate the abundance and distribution of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) in the Columbretes Islands Marine Reserve and surrounding waters (western Mediterranean). Four surveys were carried out during 2000 and 2001, following the line transect methodology. Loggerheads appeared to be present at high densities in the area throughout the whole year, although density varied between seasons, being more abundant during the spring. Mean density in the study area was 0.322 turtles/km2 (range 0.200–0.516) and the mean abundance was 1,324 turtles (range 825–2,124). The turtles were distributed homogeneously throughout the study area, we found no difference in lo…
Influence of environmental factors on small cetacean distribution in the Spanish Mediterranean
Habitat distribution models are one of the most up to date methods to study the habitat usage of wildlife populations. They allow animal distribution to be related to environmental features and also the prediction of the distribution of animals based on this relationship. Seasonal aerial surveys were conducted in central Spanish Mediterranean waters from June 2000 to March 2003 to obtain information on the distribution of cetacean species. Data from the three most common cetacean species (striped dolphin,Stenella coeruleoalba, bottlenose dolphin,Tursiops truncatus, and Risso's dolphin,Grampus griseus) were related, using generalized linear models, to local environmental features: depth, slo…