Marine Ecology Progress Series
MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08129
copiedImportance of biological parameters in assessing the status of Delphinus delphis
- Sinéad Murphy
- Arliss Winship
- Willy Dabin
- Paul D. Jepson
- Rob Deaville
- Robert J. Reid
- Chris Spurrier
- Emer Rogan
- Alfredo López
- Ángel F. González
- Fiona L. Read
- Marjan Addink
- Monica Silva
- Vincent Ridoux
- Jennifer A. Learmonth
- Graham J. Pierce
- Simon P. Northridge
ABSTRACT: Short-beaked common dolphins Delphinus delphis in the eastern North Atlantic (ENA) are subject to mortality due to entanglement in various types of fishing gear. However, for this region, there is no population-level information available on trends in abundance, (incidental) mortality rates or even the actual distributional range. Working under the assumption that only 1 population exists in ENA waters, the current study presents basic life history data and investigates whether biological information obtained from postmortem data is, in itself, useful for managing this population. Life history parameters were estimated by analysing postmortem data obtained over a 16 yr period by UK, Irish, French, Galician (northwest Spain) and Portuguese stranding and bycatch observer programmes. An annual pregnancy rate of 26%, a calving interval of 3.79 yr, an average age attained at sexual maturity of 8.22 yr and an average length at sexual maturity of 188 cm were determined. With respect to the findings based solely on mortality data, significance testing failed to detect differences that could be construed as evidence of the population exhibiting what might be density-dependent compensatory responses. The low annual pregnancy rate reported throughout the sampling period may suggest either that the level of anthropogenic mortality did not cause a substantial population level decline, or a prey base declining at approximately the same rate as the dolphin population. However, this approach alone does not facilitate an assessment of the current state of the D. delphis population in the ENA. Population abundance estimates, trends in abundance and knowledge of factors that affect the dynamics of the population, such as annual mortality rates in fisheries, temporal variations in prey abundance and effects of contaminants on reproductive activity, are required not only to set management objectives, but also to give context to cross-sectional life history information.
KEYWORDS
Sinéad Murphy (Co-author)
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 8LB, UK
- Department of Zoology, Ecology and Plant Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
Arliss Winship (Co-author)
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 8LB, UK
Willy Dabin (Co-author)
- Centre de Recherche sur les Mammifères Marins, Institut du Littoral et de l’Environnement, Université de La Rochelle,
Paul D. Jepson (Co-author)
- Institute of Zoology, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
Rob Deaville (Co-author)
- Institute of Zoology, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
Robert J. Reid (Co-author)
- Wildlife Unit, SAC Veterinary Services, Inverness IV2 4JZ, UK
Chris Spurrier (Co-author)
- Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
Emer Rogan (Co-author)
- Department of Zoology, Ecology and Plant Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
Alfredo López (Co-author)
- CEMMA, Apdo. 15 – 36380 Gondomar, Pontevedra, Spain
Ángel F. González (Co-author)
- CSIC, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Spain
Fiona L. Read (Co-author)
- CSIC, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Spain
Marjan Addink (Co-author)
- National Museum of Natural History, Darwinweg 22300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands
Monica Silva (Co-author)
- Centro do Instituto do Mar (IMAR) da Universidade dos Açores, Dept de Oceanografia e Pescas, 9901-862 Horta, Portugal
Vincent Ridoux (Co-author)
- Department of Zoology, Ecology and Plant Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
Jennifer A. Learmonth (Co-author)
- School of Biological Science, University of Aberdeen, Zoology Building, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB242TZ, UK
Graham J. Pierce (Co-author)
- School of Biological Science, University of Aberdeen, Zoology Building, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB242TZ, UK
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, PO Box 1552, 36200 Vigo, Spain
Simon P. Northridge (Co-author)
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 8LB, UK