Dear MARMAM subscribers,
We are pleased to announce the publication of a new paper about the population parameters of short-finned pilot whales:
Alves, F., Dinis, A., Nicolau, C., Ribeiro, C., Kaufmann, M., Fortuna, C. and Freitas, L. (2014), Survival and abundance of short-finned pilot whales in the archipelago of Madeira, NE Atlantic. Marine Mammal Science. doi: 10.1111/mms.12137
Abstract
Estimates of population parameters for the short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus, are scarce in literature, contributing to an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status of Data Deficient. In this study, photo-identification data collected over 7 yr from Madeira were used to
estimate for the first time survivorship, capture probability, and abundance in this species using mark-recapture methodology. The Cormack-Jolly-Seber model estimated that the adult island-associated (i.e., resident and regular visitor) whales had a constant survival rate of 0.960 (95% CI: 0.853–0.990) and an annual capture probability varying between 0.372 (CI: 0.178–0.619) and 0.843 (CI: 0.619–0.947). A parameterization of the Jolly-Seber model estimated that 140 island-associated whales (CI: 131–151) used the area throughout the course of the study. Based on a closed population model, the most precise (lower CV) annual estimate of the total number of pilot whales using the southern and eastern waters of Madeira (~900 km2) in a 3 mo period covering summer/autumn was 334 animals (CI: 260–437). No trend was observed. Despite including biases, the approach used in this study provided plausible estimates
of population parameters, which can contribute to the regional conservation strategies.
or request it by email: filalves@rocketmail.com
Regards,
Filipe Alves