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Cetacean diversity off La Réunion Island (France)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2008

Violaine Dulau-Drouot ,
Virginie Boucaud  and
Bernard Rota
Violaine Dulau-Drouot*
Affiliation:
Groupe Local d'Observation et d'Identification des Cétacés (GLOBICE), 22 Chemin Box-Les 400, 97432, Ravine des Cabris, La Réunion, France
Virginie Boucaud
Affiliation:
Groupe Local d'Observation et d'Identification des Cétacés (GLOBICE), 22 Chemin Box-Les 400, 97432, Ravine des Cabris, La Réunion, France
Bernard Rota
Affiliation:
Groupe Local d'Observation et d'Identification des Cétacés (GLOBICE), 22 Chemin Box-Les 400, 97432, Ravine des Cabris, La Réunion, France
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Violaine Dulau-Drouot, Groupe Local d'Observation et d'Identification des Cétacés (GLOBICE), 22 Chemin Box-Les 400, 97432 Ravine des Cabris, La Réunion, France email: violainedr@hotmail.com
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Abstract

The waters of La Réunion, a French island located in the south-western Indian Ocean, have never been investigated for cetacean diversity. Dedicated daily surveys were conducted in 2004–2007 to assess cetacean diversity off the western and southern coasts of the island. A total of ten species was observed during the survey period, including two baleen whales and eight odontocetes. Four additional species that had not been observed at sea were reported stranded. The most frequent delphinid species were the Indo-Pacific bottlenose, the spinner and the common bottlenose dolphins, which were observed year-round. Photo-identification data showed a high recapture rate of Tursiops aduncus, strongly suggesting a resident population. The humpback whale uses the coastal waters of La Réunion seasonally, during winter. The high proportion of mother–calf pairs indicated that La Réunion might represent a breeding area for this species. Pantropical spotted dolphin, melon-headed whale and Fraser's dolphin were sighted at a medium frequency, in offshore waters, and tended to favour the southern part of the island. Three coastal species were frequently using the newly created Marine Protected Area (MPA), supporting the view that cetacean conservation issues have to be included in the MPA management plan currently in progress.

Keywords

cetaceandiversitydistributionIndian Ocean
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 88 , Special Issue 6: Marine Mammals , September 2008 , pp. 1263 - 1272
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2008

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