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Behavioural changes and potential consequences of cetacean exposure to purse seine vessels in the Istanbul Strait, Turkey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 May 2020

Cristóbal Olaya Meza Open the ORCID record for Cristóbal Olaya Meza [Opens in a new window] ,
Aylin Akkaya ,
Flavio Affinito Open the ORCID record for Flavio Affinito [Opens in a new window] ,
Bayram Öztürk  and
Ayaka Amaha Öztürk
Cristóbal Olaya Meza*
Affiliation:
Marine Mammals Research Association, Kuskavagi Mah, 543 Sok. No.6/D, 07070, Antalya, Turkey
Aylin Akkaya
Affiliation:
Marine Mammals Research Association, Kuskavagi Mah, 543 Sok. No.6/D, 07070, Antalya, Turkey Istanbul University, Faculty of Fisheries, 34452 Beyazit, Istanbul, Turkey Turkish Marine Research Foundation, PO Box 10, Beykoz, Istanbul, 34820, Turkey
Flavio Affinito
Affiliation:
Marine Mammals Research Association, Kuskavagi Mah, 543 Sok. No.6/D, 07070, Antalya, Turkey
Bayram Öztürk
Affiliation:
Istanbul University, Faculty of Fisheries, 34452 Beyazit, Istanbul, Turkey Turkish Marine Research Foundation, PO Box 10, Beykoz, Istanbul, 34820, Turkey
Ayaka Amaha Öztürk
Affiliation:
Istanbul University, Faculty of Fisheries, 34452 Beyazit, Istanbul, Turkey Turkish Marine Research Foundation, PO Box 10, Beykoz, Istanbul, 34820, Turkey
*
Author for correspondence: Cristóbal Olaya Meza, E-mail: cristobalolayam@gmail.com
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Abstract

Marine traffic has both short- and long-term effects on cetacean behaviour, yet fishing vessels present a unique situation as they disturb cetaceans whilst potentially offering alternative foraging opportunities. The Istanbul Strait is a key area for the study of anthropogenic disturbance on cetaceans due to heavy human pressure in a narrow space where at least three cetacean species are regularly encountered. The present study investigated changes in behaviour of bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins and harbour porpoises in relation to the presence of purse seiners using Markov chains analysis. The results revealed increased foraging in bottlenose and common dolphins' behavioural budgets and a decrease in the time spent foraging by harbour porpoises. Moreover, a loglinear model was used to analyse the effect of possible confounding variables on observed behaviours. The only variables found to be affecting behaviour were the previous recorded behaviour, seiner presence and marine traffic density. Consequently, the presence of purse seine vessels leads bottlenose and common dolphins to change their behaviour and are related with a decrease of energy intake in porpoises. The results of this study reveal that there is an effect of purse seine vessel presence on the cetaceans found in the Istanbul Strait with potentially significant impacts on their behaviour, therefore we suggest more research is needed in the area to identify the long-term impacts of these observed behavioural changes.

Keywords

Anthropogenic disturbancebehavioural budgetbottlenose dolphincommon dolphinfishing pressureharbour porpoisemarine trafficMarkov chain
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 100 , Issue 5 , August 2020 , pp. 847 - 856
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2020

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