Seasonal characterisation of maritime traffic and the relationship with cetacean presence in the Western Mediterranean Sea.
Mar Pollut Bull
; 115(1-2): 282-291, 2017 Feb 15.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27993370
ABSTRACT
Seasonal maritime traffic was investigated in relation to cetaceans, through direct observations (July 2013-June 2015) along three fixed transects in Western Mediterranean. Visually obtained vessel abundance was compared with Automatic Identification System data to explore if the two methods provided different results. Traffic intensity and composition were characterised by seasons and vessel categories. Finally, cetacean presence was investigated in relation to traffic by measuring the difference of vessel abundance in the presence and absence of animal sightings. Results showed that visual sampling was consistent with AIS data, providing more information on small-medium vessels. Traffic was more intense and diverse in Spring/Summer, and the highest vessel abundance and seasonal variations in composition emerged for inshore subareas. The difference of traffic in the presence and absence of cetaceans was higher in most offshore subareas in Spring/Summer, verified for B. physalus and S. coeruleoalba; in inshore waters, mostly occupied by T. truncatus, no significant differences emerged.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Estaciones del Año
/
Navíos
/
Cetáceos
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Mar Pollut Bull
Año:
2017
Tipo del documento:
Article