University of Valencia cetacean surveys in the Spanish Mediterranean 2000-2003

Patricia Gozalbes

doi:10.15468/85yj3g

University of Valencia cetacean surveys in the Spanish Mediterranean 2000-2003

Citation

Gozalbes, P. 2012. University of Valencia cetacean surveys in the Spanish Mediterranean 2000-2003. Data downloaded from OBIS-SEAMAP (http://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/876) on yyyy-mm-dd. https://doi.org/10.15468/85yj3g accessed via GBIF.org on 2025-07-16.

Description

Original provider: Patricia Gozalbes Aparicio, Marine Zoology Unit, University of Valencia Dataset credits: Juan Antonio Raga, Marine Zoology Unit, University of Valencia Abstract: The study area comprised the waters of the Valencia and Murcia Regions (central Spanish Mediterranean), from the coastline to between 30 to 80 km offshore, with depths ranging from 10 m to 2,800 m. Seasonal line transect surveys were conducted from June 2000 to March 2003. Transects followed a systematic saw-tooth pattern that covered the area representatively (Buckland et al. 2001). The fieldwork platform was a high-wing aircraft (“push-pull” Cessna 337) flying at an altitude of 152 m (500 ft) and at a groundspeed of approximately 166 km/h (90 knots). Two observers, positioned on each side of the aircraft, scanned the sea surface and a recorder took note of data reported: species, number of animals, location (obtained from a GPS), time, and environmental conditions, including Beaufort sea state. Environmental conditions were updated whenever changes occurred and GPS provided a continuous record of position (updated every few seconds). Surveys were conducted only in good sighting conditions of Beaufort sea state less than 3. Purpose: Seasonal aerial surveys were conducted in central Spanish Mediterranean waters from 2000 to 2003 to obtain information on the distribution of cetacean species with the aim of delimiting marine protected areas (MPAs) for their conservation.

Purpose

Seasonal aerial surveys were conducted in central Spanish Mediterranean waters from 2000 to 2003 to obtain information on the distribution of cetacean species with the aim of delimiting marine protected areas (MPAs) for their conservation.

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).

Balaenoptera physalus
common name: Fin Whale rank: species
Caretta caretta
common name: Loggerhead Sea Turtle rank: species
Delphinus delphis
common name: Short-beaked Common Dolphin rank: species
Globicephala melas
common name: Long-finned Pilot Whale rank: species
Grampus griseus
common name: Risso's Dolphin rank: species
Stenella coeruleoalba
common name: Striped Dolphin rank: species
Tursiops truncatus
common name: Common Bottlenose Dolphin rank: species
Delphinidae
common name: dolphins rank: family
Ziphius cavirostris
common name: Cuvier's Beaked Whale rank: species

Geographic Coverages

Oceans

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Patricia Gozalbes
originator
position: Primary contact
Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva. Unidad de Zoología Marina
email: patricia.gozalbes@uv.es

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

Patricia Gozalbes
owner
position: Primary contact
Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva. Unidad de Zoología Marina
email: patricia.gozalbes@uv.es

ACCOBAMS and WDCS
originator
The Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS) and Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS)
homepage: http://www.accobams.org/

Patricia Gozalbes
administrative point of contact
position: Primary contact
Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva. Unidad de Zoología Marina
email: patricia.gozalbes@uv.es