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Torres-Pereira A, Araújo H, Matos FL, Bastos-Santos J, Sá S, Ferreira M, Martínez-Cedeira J, López A, Sequeira M, Vingada J, Eira C. Harbour Porpoise Abundance in Portugal over a 5-Year Period and Estimates of Potential Distribution. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:1935. [PMID: 35953924 PMCID: PMC9367303 DOI: 10.3390/ani12151935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Iberian porpoise population is small and under potentially unsustainable removal by fisheries bycatch. Recently, a marine Site of Community Importance (SCI) was legally approved in Portugal, but no measures ensued to promote porpoise conservation. Information about porpoise abundance and distribution is fundamental to guide any future conservation measures. Annual aerial surveys conducted between 2011 and 2015 show a low overall porpoise abundance and density (2254 individuals; 0.090 ind/km2, CV = 21.99%) in the Portuguese coast. The highest annual porpoise estimates were registered in 2013 (3207 individuals, 0.128 ind/km2), followed by a sharp decrease in 2014 (1653 individuals, 0.066 ind/km2). The porpoise density and abundance estimated in 2015 remained lower than the 2013 estimates. A potential distribution analysis of the Iberian porpoise population was performed using ensembles of small models (ESMs) with MaxEnt and showed that the overall habitat suitability is particularly high in the Portuguese northern area. The analysis also suggested a different pattern in porpoise potential distribution across the study period. These results emphasize the importance of further porpoise population assessments to fully understand the spatial and temporal porpoise habitat use in the Iberian Peninsula as well as the urgent need for on-site threat mitigation measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia Torres-Pereira
- Department of Biology & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (F.L.M.); (S.S.); (A.L.); (C.E.)
- ECOMARE, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (H.A.); (M.F.); (J.V.)
- Portuguese Wildlife Society (SPVS), Estação de Campo de Quiaios, 3081-101 Figueira da Foz, Portugal;
| | - Hélder Araújo
- ECOMARE, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (H.A.); (M.F.); (J.V.)
- Portuguese Wildlife Society (SPVS), Estação de Campo de Quiaios, 3081-101 Figueira da Foz, Portugal;
| | - Fábio L. Matos
- Department of Biology & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (F.L.M.); (S.S.); (A.L.); (C.E.)
| | - Jorge Bastos-Santos
- Portuguese Wildlife Society (SPVS), Estação de Campo de Quiaios, 3081-101 Figueira da Foz, Portugal;
| | - Sara Sá
- Department of Biology & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (F.L.M.); (S.S.); (A.L.); (C.E.)
- ECOMARE, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (H.A.); (M.F.); (J.V.)
- Portuguese Wildlife Society (SPVS), Estação de Campo de Quiaios, 3081-101 Figueira da Foz, Portugal;
| | - Marisa Ferreira
- ECOMARE, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (H.A.); (M.F.); (J.V.)
- Portuguese Wildlife Society (SPVS), Estação de Campo de Quiaios, 3081-101 Figueira da Foz, Portugal;
| | - José Martínez-Cedeira
- Coordinadora para o Estudio dos Mamíferos Mariños (CEMMA), Apdo, 156-36380 Gondomar, Spain;
| | - Alfredo López
- Department of Biology & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (F.L.M.); (S.S.); (A.L.); (C.E.)
- ECOMARE, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (H.A.); (M.F.); (J.V.)
- Coordinadora para o Estudio dos Mamíferos Mariños (CEMMA), Apdo, 156-36380 Gondomar, Spain;
| | - Marina Sequeira
- Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e Florestas (ICNF), Av. da República 16, 1050-191 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - José Vingada
- ECOMARE, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (H.A.); (M.F.); (J.V.)
- Portuguese Wildlife Society (SPVS), Estação de Campo de Quiaios, 3081-101 Figueira da Foz, Portugal;
| | - Catarina Eira
- Department of Biology & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (F.L.M.); (S.S.); (A.L.); (C.E.)
- ECOMARE, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (H.A.); (M.F.); (J.V.)
- Portuguese Wildlife Society (SPVS), Estação de Campo de Quiaios, 3081-101 Figueira da Foz, Portugal;
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Affiliation(s)
- Songhai Li
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
| | - Mingming Liu
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
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