Statistical Analyses of Marine Mammal Occurrence, Habitat Associations and Interactions with Ocean Dynamic Features
Abstract
This work is sponsored by ONR as part of a joint research project with the NATO SACLANT Center Sound, Oceanography and Living MArine Resources (SOLMAR) project in La Spezia, Italy. Within this SACLANTCEN project multiple interdisciplinary sea trials (Sirena campaigns) have been successfully conducted in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea since 1999. Six sea trials have been conducted in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea from 1999 to 2003 during the late spring/summer season. The main goal of the project was correlating relevant environmental and biological parameters with concurrent marine mammal sightings. Among the different species inhabiting the area, Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris, which is the only beaked whale commonly found in the Mediterranean Sea, was chosen as the focal species. Since the Genoa Canyon was a known habitat for Cuvier's Beaked Whales (Fig. I), in 2002 a dedicated single ship cruise was conducted in the canyon region collecting oceanographic (21 CTD stations), visual and acoustic data in an area of about 10,600 km2. On-effort sightings were made during transect between the CTD stations and while on station.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 30, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA454783
Entities
People
- Arianna Azzellino
- Peter Tyack
Organizations
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution