Dear colleagues,
On behalf of my co-authors I am happy to share our new open access paper
on Black Sea cetaceans in Bulgarian waters. It is published in
/Diversity/ *2023*, /15/(2), 229; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020229
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/2/229
<https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/2/229?fbclid=IwAR28J_vD0cqbz15Pl7ivBuozoJxYDeGgSuUWfYpgMYfEwxHeJWa-znftgok>
Abstract: Black Sea cetaceans are isolated and nominated as endemic
subspecies listed in the IUCN Red List of Endangered species: the
harbour porpoise and bottlenose dolphin as Endangered (EN) and the
common dolphin as Vulnerable (VU). Studies of their distribution and
abundance are scarce but obligatory for assessment of their conservation
status. Being highly mobile apex predators entails large variations in
spatial and temporal distribution. Two vessel line–transect distance
sampling surveys were conducted in 2017 in the Bulgarian shelf with the
aim to estimate the density, abundance and distribution during spring
and autumn. Results have revealed a shift from the coastal to offshore
shelf of harbour porpoises with marked southern movement. Density of
porpoises varied from 1.423 ind./km^2 (CV = 25.4%) in spring to 0.576
ind./km^2 (CV = 43.43%) in autumn. The density of common dolphins was
also decreasing, from 0.391 ind./km^2 (CV = 36.84%) to 0.088 ind./km^2
(CV = 42.13%), which was more significant in offshore (0.031 ind./km^2 ,
CV = 58.04%) than in the coastal shelf (0.138 ind./km^2 , CV = 48.59%).
Bottlenose dolphins had almost constant density in both seasons in the
coastal shelf: 0.211 ind./km^2 (CV = 52.15%) and 0.187 ind./km^2 (CV =
52.13%) but a very low density in the offshore shelf in autumn: 0.042
ind./km^2 (CV = 71.07%). The importance of existing NATURA 2000 sites
for the harbour porpoise (BG0000621 Shabla-Ezerets, BG0000573 Kompleks
Kaliaka, BG0001001 Ropotamo and BG0001007 Strandzha) and bottlenose
dolphin (BG0000621 Shabla-Ezerets, BG0000573 Kompleks Kaliaka, BG0001501
Emona and BG0001001 Ropotamo) were confirmed.
Citation: Popov, D.; Panayotova, M.; Bekova, R.; Dimitrov, H.; Meshkova,
G. Seasonal Abundance, Density and Distribution of Cetaceans in the
Bulgarian Black Sea Shelf in 2017. /Diversity/ *2023*, /15/, 229.
https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020229
In case you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Best regards,
Dimitar
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__________________________________________________
*__________________________________________________
Dimitar Popov (Mr.)
**Project Manager
GREEN BALKANS NGO*
LIFE19 NAT/BG/000804 LIFE FOR POMORIE LAGOON
1, Skopie str., office 10
Plovdiv 4004, Bulgaria
Tel: +359 (0) 32 626 977
Fax: +359 (0) 32 635 921
Mobile +359 (0)885 108712
E-mail: _dpopov@greenbalkans.org_
http://www.greenbalkans.org
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