... FOSSI, STEFANIA GASPARI, ALBERTO MARCO GATTONI, MICHELA GIUSTI, ANTONELLA IMPETUOSO, GABRIELL... more ... FOSSI, STEFANIA GASPARI, ALBERTO MARCO GATTONI, MICHELA GIUSTI, ANTONELLA IMPETUOSO, GABRIELLA LA MANNA, GIANCARLO LAURIANO, LETIZIA MARSILI, SANDRO MAZZARIOL, ANTONIO MAZZOLA, AURELIE MOULINS, BARBARA NANI, ADA NATOLI ...
We investigated the presence and diversity of cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea, analysing the d... more We investigated the presence and diversity of cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea, analysing the data collected by 32 different research units, over a period of 15 years (2004–2018), and shared on the common web-GIS platform named Intercet. We used the encounter rate, the species prevalence, and the Shannon diversity index as parameters for data analysis. The results show that cetacean diversity, in the context of the Mediterranean basin, is generally quite low when compared with the eastern Atlantic, as few species, namely the striped dolphin, the bottlenose dolphin, the fin whale, and the sperm whale, dominate over all the others. However, some areas, such as the Alboran Sea or the north-western Mediterranean Sea, which includes the Pelagos Sanctuary (the Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Interest located in the northern portion of the western basin), show higher levels of diversity and should be considered hotspots to be preserved. Primary production and seabed profile see...
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 2017
Sowerby's beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) was previously known in the Mediterranean Sea from... more Sowerby's beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) was previously known in the Mediterranean Sea from a single live stranding of two individuals in the French Riviera. We report here on two live sightings in the western Mediterranean, central-western Tyrrhenian Sea off eastern Corsica (Montecristo Trough) and off eastern Sardinia (Caprera Canyon) in 2010 and 2012, respectively. In both cases single individuals, possibly the same individual, occurred within groups of Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) suggesting inter-specific interactions. Based on our close observations of mixed-species groups of Sowerby's and Cuvier's beaked whales, we hypothesize that some previous long-distance sightings of beaked whales in the Mediterranean may not be reliably attributed to Z. cavirostris. The present sightings and previous live stranding indicate that the western Mediterranean Sea is the easternmost marginal area of M. bidens within the North Atlantic geographic range. Notes ...
The all-year-round knowledge on cetaceans off Sardinia is scarce and mostly focused on the coasta... more The all-year-round knowledge on cetaceans off Sardinia is scarce and mostly focused on the coastal species Tursiops truncatus in the northern waters of the island. This work aims to increase information on pelagic cetaceans in the poor studied off-shore waters from North-Eastern Sardinian coast on the basis of surveys carried out between 2010 and 2013, using dedicated and opportunistic surveys. First I evaluate the occurrence of pelagic cetacean species, the spatial-temporal distribution and the interactions with fixed physical variables (depth, slope and shape), non-fixed environmental variables (Sea Surface Temperature and chlorophyll a ) which may affect their presence and distribution in the study area. The relative abundance of the cetacean species regularly inhabiting the area and the high encounter rate values, point out the significance of the Caprera Canyon for the cetaceans’ conservation, in the central Tyrrhenian Sea. Therefore I analyzed the occurrence and seasonal distribution of Balaenoptera physalus the only Mysticete in Mediterranean Sea, in relation with oceanographic variables as Sea Surface temperature and chlorophyll a . The high seasonal presence of fin whale off north-eastern Sardinia reflects a yearly pattern and is linked to a mix of variables such as the bottom features, water circulations as proxy of prey availability. Moreover, I analyzed the sightings of three social units of Physeter macrocephalus recorded during summer 2010 and 2013. The encounter rates of this species in the entire study period were low. Despite this I recorded three encounters with sperm whale pods that highlighted the periodic use of the Caprera Canyon by these large cetaceans. The social units were composed of several individuals such as females, calves and probably young males. Finally I present the first documented records of a free-ranging Sowerby’s beaked whale ( Mesoplodon bidens ) in the Mediterranean Sea. This rare and elusive cetacean was sighted together with three Cuvier’s beaked whales in a mixed species group. Scarring observed on the whale’s flanks may result from interspecific interaction with males of Cuvier’s beaked whales. Nevertheless, all the gathered data suggest that the mesoplodont in the Tyrrhenian Sea could be considered as a stray.
Presence oj cetaceans was monitored using a platform oj opportunity (whale watching) off north ea... more Presence oj cetaceans was monitored using a platform oj opportunity (whale watching) off north eastern Sardinia, jrom summer 2010 to winter 2011. The monitoring consisted in seventeen surveys covering a total oj 1930 km. Six cetacean species have been observed, totalizing 49 sightings. Striped dolphin was the most abundant species in the continental slope area. The waters in the Caprera Canyon appear as a potential hot spot oj cetaceans and will be surveyed by dedicated campaigns. Moreover whale-watching activities should be monitored.
... FOSSI, STEFANIA GASPARI, ALBERTO MARCO GATTONI, MICHELA GIUSTI, ANTONELLA IMPETUOSO, GABRIELL... more ... FOSSI, STEFANIA GASPARI, ALBERTO MARCO GATTONI, MICHELA GIUSTI, ANTONELLA IMPETUOSO, GABRIELLA LA MANNA, GIANCARLO LAURIANO, LETIZIA MARSILI, SANDRO MAZZARIOL, ANTONIO MAZZOLA, AURELIE MOULINS, BARBARA NANI, ADA NATOLI ...
We investigated the presence and diversity of cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea, analysing the d... more We investigated the presence and diversity of cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea, analysing the data collected by 32 different research units, over a period of 15 years (2004–2018), and shared on the common web-GIS platform named Intercet. We used the encounter rate, the species prevalence, and the Shannon diversity index as parameters for data analysis. The results show that cetacean diversity, in the context of the Mediterranean basin, is generally quite low when compared with the eastern Atlantic, as few species, namely the striped dolphin, the bottlenose dolphin, the fin whale, and the sperm whale, dominate over all the others. However, some areas, such as the Alboran Sea or the north-western Mediterranean Sea, which includes the Pelagos Sanctuary (the Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Interest located in the northern portion of the western basin), show higher levels of diversity and should be considered hotspots to be preserved. Primary production and seabed profile see...
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 2017
Sowerby's beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) was previously known in the Mediterranean Sea from... more Sowerby's beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) was previously known in the Mediterranean Sea from a single live stranding of two individuals in the French Riviera. We report here on two live sightings in the western Mediterranean, central-western Tyrrhenian Sea off eastern Corsica (Montecristo Trough) and off eastern Sardinia (Caprera Canyon) in 2010 and 2012, respectively. In both cases single individuals, possibly the same individual, occurred within groups of Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) suggesting inter-specific interactions. Based on our close observations of mixed-species groups of Sowerby's and Cuvier's beaked whales, we hypothesize that some previous long-distance sightings of beaked whales in the Mediterranean may not be reliably attributed to Z. cavirostris. The present sightings and previous live stranding indicate that the western Mediterranean Sea is the easternmost marginal area of M. bidens within the North Atlantic geographic range. Notes ...
The all-year-round knowledge on cetaceans off Sardinia is scarce and mostly focused on the coasta... more The all-year-round knowledge on cetaceans off Sardinia is scarce and mostly focused on the coastal species Tursiops truncatus in the northern waters of the island. This work aims to increase information on pelagic cetaceans in the poor studied off-shore waters from North-Eastern Sardinian coast on the basis of surveys carried out between 2010 and 2013, using dedicated and opportunistic surveys. First I evaluate the occurrence of pelagic cetacean species, the spatial-temporal distribution and the interactions with fixed physical variables (depth, slope and shape), non-fixed environmental variables (Sea Surface Temperature and chlorophyll a ) which may affect their presence and distribution in the study area. The relative abundance of the cetacean species regularly inhabiting the area and the high encounter rate values, point out the significance of the Caprera Canyon for the cetaceans’ conservation, in the central Tyrrhenian Sea. Therefore I analyzed the occurrence and seasonal distribution of Balaenoptera physalus the only Mysticete in Mediterranean Sea, in relation with oceanographic variables as Sea Surface temperature and chlorophyll a . The high seasonal presence of fin whale off north-eastern Sardinia reflects a yearly pattern and is linked to a mix of variables such as the bottom features, water circulations as proxy of prey availability. Moreover, I analyzed the sightings of three social units of Physeter macrocephalus recorded during summer 2010 and 2013. The encounter rates of this species in the entire study period were low. Despite this I recorded three encounters with sperm whale pods that highlighted the periodic use of the Caprera Canyon by these large cetaceans. The social units were composed of several individuals such as females, calves and probably young males. Finally I present the first documented records of a free-ranging Sowerby’s beaked whale ( Mesoplodon bidens ) in the Mediterranean Sea. This rare and elusive cetacean was sighted together with three Cuvier’s beaked whales in a mixed species group. Scarring observed on the whale’s flanks may result from interspecific interaction with males of Cuvier’s beaked whales. Nevertheless, all the gathered data suggest that the mesoplodont in the Tyrrhenian Sea could be considered as a stray.
Presence oj cetaceans was monitored using a platform oj opportunity (whale watching) off north ea... more Presence oj cetaceans was monitored using a platform oj opportunity (whale watching) off north eastern Sardinia, jrom summer 2010 to winter 2011. The monitoring consisted in seventeen surveys covering a total oj 1930 km. Six cetacean species have been observed, totalizing 49 sightings. Striped dolphin was the most abundant species in the continental slope area. The waters in the Caprera Canyon appear as a potential hot spot oj cetaceans and will be surveyed by dedicated campaigns. Moreover whale-watching activities should be monitored.
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Papers by Luca Bittau