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Seasonal trends and spatial differences in marine mammal occurrence in Broadhaven Bay, north-west Ireland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 September 2012

Pia Anderwald ,
Michael Damien Haberlin ,
Mary Coleman ,
Oliver Ó Cadhla ,
Anneli Englund ,
Fleur Visser  and
Michelle Cronin
Pia Anderwald*
Affiliation:
Coastal and Marine Research Centre, University College Cork, Haulbowline, Cobh, County Cork, Ireland
Michael Damien Haberlin
Affiliation:
Coastal and Marine Research Centre, University College Cork, Haulbowline, Cobh, County Cork, Ireland
Mary Coleman
Affiliation:
Coastal and Marine Research Centre, University College Cork, Haulbowline, Cobh, County Cork, Ireland
Oliver Ó Cadhla
Affiliation:
Siar Environment, Kinvara, County Galway, Ireland
Anneli Englund
Affiliation:
School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, The Cooperage, Distillery Fields, North Mall, Cork, Ireland
Fleur Visser
Affiliation:
Kelp Marine Research, 1624 CJ, Hoorn, The Netherlands University of Amsterdam, IBED Institute, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Michelle Cronin
Affiliation:
Coastal and Marine Research Centre, University College Cork, Haulbowline, Cobh, County Cork, Ireland
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: P. Anderwald, Coastal and Marine Research Centre, University College Cork, Haulbowline, Cobh, County Cork, Ireland email: panderwald@hotmail.com
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Abstract

Long-term monitoring programmes of a comparatively small area complement larger scale, but temporally limited surveys and can provide extensive datasets on seasonal occurrence and fine-scale habitat use of multiple species. A marine mammal monitoring programme, involving year-round, land-based observations, has been conducted in Broadhaven Bay candidate Special Area of Conservation, north-west Ireland, during 2002, 2005 and 2008–2011. Nine cetacean and two seal species have been recorded, with grey seal, harbour porpoise, common and bottlenose dolphins, and minke whale present throughout the year. Generalized additive models, taking into account observer effort, sighting conditions (sea state) and interannual variation, did not reveal any significant seasonal patterns in the occurrence of grey seals, bottlenose dolphins and minke whales. On the other hand, common dolphin presence in Broadhaven Bay was highest during autumn and winter. Bottlenose dolphins could be separated spatially from both common dolphins and minke whales in a classification tree by their preferential use of the shallower inshore areas of the bay (<30 m depth). However, common dolphins and minke whales, which occurred mainly in the deeper outer section of Broadhaven Bay, could not be spatially distinguished from each other, and grey seals were distributed over the entire bay. Broadhaven Bay represents an important marine mammal habitat with respect to overall species diversity and the regular occurrence of bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise, grey and harbour seals (all listed under Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive).

Keywords

north-east Atlanticcetaceansealhabitat use
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 92 , Issue 8: Marine Mammals , December 2012 , pp. 1757 - 1766
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2012

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