Dear MARMAMers:
On behalf of the authors, I am happy to announce a new publication which is now available: Smultea MA, Holst M. Koski WR, Stoltz Roi S, Sayegh AJ, Fossati C, Goldstein HH, Beland JA, MacLean S, Yin S (2013). Visual-Acoustic Survey of Cetaceans during a Seismic Study in the South-east Caribbean Sea, April-June 2004. Caribbean Journal of Science 47(2-3):273-283. *Abstract*: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory's monitoring and mitigation program during an academic seismic study in April-June 2004 was the largest cetacean survey undertaken to date in the southeast Caribbean Sea. A total of 10,007 km (904 h) of visual observations occurred from the seismic vessel R/V* Maurice Ewing* and from the support vessel R/V *Seward Johnson II*. In addition, 7375 km (846 h) of passive acoustic monitoring for vocalizing cetaceans occurred from the *Ewing* via a towed 250-m hydrophone array. Approximately 1293 cetaceans in 46 groups were seen from the two vessels, and 78 acoustic detections were made. Nine cetacean species were identified of which the long-beaked common dolphin (*Delphinus capensis*), Atlantic spotted dolphin (*Stenella frontalis*), and bottlenose dolphin (*Tursiops truncatus*) were sighted most frequently. The striped dolphin (*S. coeruleoalba*), spinner dolphin (*S. **longirostris*), pantropical spotted dolphin (*S. **attenuata*), short-finned pilot whale (*Globicephala macrorhynchus*)*, *sperm whale (*Physeter macrocephalus*), and Bryde's whale (*Balaenoptera edeni*) were also identified during visual surveys. Only the sperm whale was positively identified by acoustic monitoring alone. At least 17 sperm whale detections (visual and/or acoustic) were made around the islands and atolls of the Venezuelan Archipelago near and beyond the 1000-m depth contour. Overall cetacean density in intermediate water (100 to 1000 m deep) was five times greater than in deep (>1000 m) water. This study addresses previous data gaps on the occurrence of cetaceans in shelf and offshore waters across a wide area of the southeast Caribbean Sea in spring. Requests for reprints can be sent to: Mari Smultea [email protected] or Cathy Bacon [email protected] With warm regards, Cathy -- Cathy Bacon Marine Mammal Research Associate/Marine Biologist Smultea Environmental Sciences, LLC (SES) http://www.smulteasciences.com/#
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