publication on the distribution of harbour porpoises in the Baltic Sea

[Jens Koblitz <>]

Dear colleagues,

on behalf of all authors, I like to announce the publication of the following new paper in Biological Conservation:

Basin-scale distribution of harbour porpoises in the Baltic Sea provides basis for effective conservation actions

Ida Carlén, Len Thomas, Julia Carlström, Mats Amundin, Jonas Teilmann, Nick Tregenza, Jakob Tougaard, Jens C. Koblitz, Signe Sveegaard, Daniel Wennerberg, Olli Loisa, Michael Dähne, Katharina Brundiers, Monika Kosecka, Line Anker Kyhn, Cinthia Tiberi Ljungqvist, Iwona Pawliczka, Radomil Koza, Bartlomiej Arciszewski, Anders Galatius, Martin Jabbusch, Jussi Laaksonlaita, Jussi Niemi, Sami Lyytinen, Anja Gallus, Harald Benke, Penina Blankett, Krzysztof E. Skóra, Alejandro Acevedo-Gutiérrez

Biological Conservation, Volume 226, October 2018, Pages 42-53

Abstract: Knowledge on spatial and seasonal distribution of species is crucial when designing protected areas and implementing management actions. The Baltic Proper harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) population is critically endangered, and its distribution is virtually unknown. Here, we used passive acoustic monitoring and species distribution models to describe the spatial and seasonal distribution of harbour porpoises in the Baltic Proper. Porpoise click detectors were deployed over a systematic grid of 297 stations in eight countries from April 2011 through July 2013. Generalized additive models were used to describe the monthly probability of detecting porpoise clicks as a function of spatially-referenced covariates and time. During the reproductive season, two main areas of high probability of porpoise detection were identified. One of those areas, situated on and around the offshore banks in the Baltic Proper, is clearly separated from the known distribution range of the Belt Sea population during breeding season, suggesting this is an important breeding ground for the Baltic Proper population. We commend the designation of this area as a marine protected area and recommend Baltic Sea countries to also protect areas in the southern Baltic Sea and the Hanö Bight where additional important harbour porpoise habitats were identified. Further conservation measures should be carried out based on analyses of overlap between harbour porpoise distribution and potentially harmful anthropogenic activities. Our study shows that large-scale systematic monitoring using novel techniques can give important insights on the distribution of low-density populations, and that international cooperation is pivotal when studying transnationally migratory species.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2018.06.031

Free download through this link until 14 September:

https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1XSBU1R~e720P

Or just contact me and I will happily provide you with the PDF.

Best regards from the SAMBAH team :)

--
Dr. Jens C. Koblitz

BioAcousticsNetwork

Eichenallee 32 a
41469 Neuss
Germany

Cell: +49 (0) 1512-2236452

www.BioAcousticsNetwork.org