SCANS II cetacean sightings on primary platform of vessel surveys 2005

Claire Lacey

doi:10.15468/xg3khg

SCANS II cetacean sightings on primary platform of vessel surveys 2005

Citation

Lacey C, OBIS-SEAMAP (2021). SCANS II cetacean sightings on primary platform of vessel surveys 2005. OBIS-SEAMAP. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/xg3khg accessed via GBIF.org on 2025-06-14.

Description

Original provider: Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St. Andrews Dataset credits: Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St. Andrews Abstract: The European Union (EU) Habitats Directive requires Member States to monitor and maintain at favourable conservation status those species identified to be in need of protection, including all cetaceans. In July 2005 we surveyed the entire EU Atlantic continental shelf to generate robust estimates of abundance for harbour porpoise and other cetacean species. The survey used line transect sampling methods and purpose built data collection equipment designed to minimise bias in estimates of abundance. Shipboard transects covered 19,725 km in sea conditions <= Beaufort 4 in an area of 1,005,743 km2. Aerial transects covered 15,802 km in good/moderate conditions (<= Beaufort 3) in an area of 364,371 km2. Thirteen cetacean species were recorded; abundance was estimated for harbour porpoise (375,358; CV = 0.197), bottlenose dolphin (16,485; CV = 0.422), white-beaked dolphin (16,536; CV = 0.303), short-beaked common dolphin (56,221; CV = 0.234) and minke whale (18,958; CV = 0.347). Abundance in 2005 was similar to that estimated in July 1994 for harbour porpoise, white-beaked dolphin and minke whale in a comparable area. However, model-based density surfaces showed a marked difference in harbour porpoise distribution between 1994 and 2005. Our results allow EU Member States to discharge their responsibilities under the Habitats Directive and inform other international organisations concerning the assessment of conservation status of cetaceans and the impact of bycatch at a large spatial scale. The lack of evidence for a change in harbour porpoise abundance in EU waters as a whole does not exclude the possibility of an impact of bycatch in some areas. Monitoring bycatch and estimation of abundance continue to be essential. Supplemental information: Surveys from seven different vessels were merged. Each vessel contained two sightings platforms running concurrently – primary and tracker. This dataset includes sightings from the primary platform. Sightings from the tracker platform are registered in SCANS II cetacean sightings on tracker platform of vessel surveys 2005. Effort or vessel tracks for these surveys are provided with this dataset. Survey conditions such as sea state, glare, swell, wind are found in the effort data. In the primary platform, normal binoculars were used and distance and angle were estimated by observer on the vessel with raditional bearing board and range finder-stick.

Purpose

Not available

Sampling Description

Study Extent

NA

Sampling

NA

Method steps

NA

Additional info

marine, harvested by iOBIS

Taxonomic Coverages

Scientific names are based on the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).

Cetacea
common name: cetaceans rank: order
Tursiops truncatus
common name: Common Bottlenose Dolphin rank: species
Prionace glauca
common name: blue shark rank: species
Cetorhinus maximus
common name: basking shark rank: species
Ziphius cavirostris
common name: Cuvier's Beaked Whale rank: species
Delphinus delphis
common name: Short-beaked Common Dolphin rank: species
Delphinidae
common name: dolphins rank: family
Balaenoptera physalus
common name: Fin Whale rank: species
Phocoena phocoena
common name: Harbor Porpoise rank: species
Halichoerus grypus
common name: Atlantic gray seal rank: species
Phocoena phocoena
common name: Harbor Porpoise rank: species
Orcinus orca
common name: Killer Whale rank: species
Lagenorhynchus
common name: white-beaked dolphins rank: genus
Globicephala melas
common name: Long-finned Pilot Whale rank: species
Dermochelys coriacea
common name: Leatherback Sea Turtle rank: species
Cetacea
common name: cetaceans rank: order
Mola mola
common name: ocean sunfish rank: species
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
common name: Minke Whale rank: species
Delphinidae
common name: dolphins rank: family
Phoca vitulina
common name: Harbor Seal rank: species
Grampus griseus
common name: Risso's Dolphin rank: species
Cetacea
common name: cetaceans rank: order
Stenella coeruleoalba
common name: Striped Dolphin rank: species
Elasmobranchii
common name: cartilaginous fishes rank: subclass
Caniformia
common name: pinnipeds rank: suborder
Delphinidae
common name: dolphins rank: family
Odontoceti
common name: toothed whales rank: suborder
Cetacea
common name: cetaceans rank: order
Lagenorhynchus albirostris
common name: White-beaked Dolphin rank: species
Lagenorhynchus acutus
common name: Atlantic White-sided Dolphin rank: species

Geographic Coverages

North Atlantic Ocean,European Atlantic shelf waters

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Claire Lacey
originator
position: Primary contact
Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St. Andrews
email: cl20@st-andrews.ac.uk
homepage: http://biology.st-andrews.ac.uk/scans2/

OBIS-SEAMAP
metadata author
Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University
A328 LSRC building
Durham
27708
NC
US
email: seamap-contact@duke.edu
homepage: http://seamap.env.duke.edu

OBIS-SEAMAP
distributor
Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University
A328 LSRC building
Durham
27708
NC
US
email: seamap-contact@duke.edu
homepage: http://seamap.env.duke.edu

Claire Lacey
owner
position: Primary contact
Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St. Andrews
email: cl20@st-andrews.ac.uk
homepage: http://biology.st-andrews.ac.uk/scans2/

Claire Lacey
administrative point of contact
position: Primary contact
Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St. Andrews
email: cl20@st-andrews.ac.uk
homepage: http://biology.st-andrews.ac.uk/scans2/