Dear sirs
I would like to post on the MARMAM list the following
announcement:
Subjetc: NEW PAPER Predictive habitat models to manage MPAs
Dear colleagues,
We are pleased to announce the publication of the following paper in the
Ocean and Coastal Management:
Azzellino A., Panigada S., Lanfredi C, Zanardelli M., Airoldi, S. and
Notarbartolo di Sciara, G. 2012. Predictive Habitat Models For Managing
Marine Areas: Spatial And Temporal Distribution Of Marine Mammals
Within The Pelagos Sanctuary (Northwestern Mediterranean Sea).
Ocean and Coastal Management 67:63-74.
ABSTRACT:
Habitat use of seven different species of
cetaceans inhabiting the Pelagos Sanctuary was studied using
18-year summer shipboard surveys data, in an area of approximately 25,000
km2. 2940 sightings were
collected: 1996 striped dolphins, 626
fi
n whales, 120
Risso?
s dolphins, 114 sperm whales, 27
common
bottlenose dolphins, 25
long-fi
nned pilot whales, 23
Cuvier?
s beaked whales. Stepwise Logistic
Regression
Analysis was used to develop presence/absence predictive models.
Statistics of depth and slope were
used as covariates.
Signifi
cant correlations were outlined
(P
<
0.05) supporting the hypothesis
that
physiographic factors may be employed as predictors of the species
presence. The temporal variability of
the species habitat use was also analyzed,
confi
rming the reliability of the physiographic
predictors.
Temporal trends and variability in the species distribution were also
assessed through a GLM analysis.
The understanding offered by this long-term study is essential for
managing the conservation status of
these wide-ranging species.
PDF copies are available upon request to
arianna.azzellino@polimi.it
All the best
===================================================================================
Dr. Arianna Azzellino,
PhD Environmental Engineering
Politecnico di Milano
University of Technology, Milan
D.I.I.A.R. Environmental Engineering Department
http://www.diiar.polimi.it/amb/persona.asp?id=37
P.za Leonardo da Vinci, 32
20133 Milano - ITALY
ph. +39 02 - 23996431
fax. +39 02 - 23996499
e-mail arianna.azzellino@polimi.it