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Daily species checklist from whale-watching—studying the research potential with an Azorean case study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2008

José Nuno D.S. Gomes Pereira
José Nuno D.S. Gomes Pereira*
Affiliation:
SCIAENA—Association for Marine Sciences and Cooperation, Avenida General Humberto Delgado, No. 23 6°Dto, 2560-272 Torres Vedras, Portugal
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: José Nuno D.S. Gomes Pereira, SCIAENA—Association for Marine Sciences and Cooperation, Avenida General Humberto Delgado, No. 23 6°Dto, 2560-272 Torres Vedras, Portugal email: jngomespereira@sciaena.org
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Abstract

The present work uses daily checklist data from whale-watching to study basic aspects of cetacean ecology. Data in the Azores consists of a simple daily list of all species sighted by boats, with no additional information. The Azorean whale-watching activity is described and sources of variation related to data collection are debated. A data-set from one whale-watching company is analysed from 2001 to 2006, from April to October (tourism season). The first four years were used to describe frequencies in the area, and maximum and minimum regional sea surface temperatures for nineteen cetacean species, based on remote sensed data. Several species were present throughout the season, while for others, results indicate transient habits in the study area (Balaenopterids, Globicephala sp., Pseudorca crassidens, Orcinus orca and Hyperodoon ampullatus). Reservations were made relative to small size and evasive species. Sighting frequencies on temperature classes in 2005 and 2006 were used successfully in an experimental approach to study delphinid simpatry. The simplicity of data was overcome by the diversity of sighted species and the dimension of the time scale. Daily checklist is a low cost useful source of information mainly for large cetaceans that should keep being registered.

Keywords

whale-watchingchecklistAzorescetaceanecologysea surface temperature
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 88 , Special Issue 6: Marine Mammals , September 2008 , pp. 1283 - 1288
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2008

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