Dear all,
On behalf of me and my co-authors, I am happy to share our recently
published new paper on cetaceans' summer abundance and distribution in
Bulgarian Black Sea waters, available on the link:
https://www.acta-zoologica-bulgarica.eu/2024/Suppl_20_21.pdf
Abstract:
/All three Black Sea cetacean species are nominated as endemic
subspecies for the basin listed in the IUCN Red List of Endangered
species: the Black Sea harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena relicta) and
Black Sea bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus ponticus) as Endangered
(EN), while the Black Sea common dolphin (Delphinus delphis ponticus) as
Vulnerable (VU). In addition, all three species are protected at
national and international levels. Effective conservation of protected
and endangered species requires robust data on their distribution to
delineate important habitats. We present data on the summer distribution
of cetaceans in Bulgarian shelf waters, derived from a series of vessel
line transect distance sampling surveys, conducted in the summer months
during the period 2020-2023. Harbour porpoise density estimates ranged
from 0.156 ind./sq. km (CV=43%) in territorial waters in 2020 to
2.83 ind./sq. km (CV=27%) in deeper waters in 2022. Bottlenose dolphin
density estimates ranged from 0.226 ind./sq. km (CV=49%) in territorial
waters in 2023 to 0.542 ind./sq. km (CV=35%) in 2020, also in
territorial waters. Common dolphin density ranged from 0.032 ind./sq. km
(CV=80%) in territorial waters in 2023 to 0.699 ind./sq. km (CV=41%) in
deep shelf waters in 2022. The distribution of porpoises has shown a
clear preference for deep waters (80-100 m), indicating a shift from the
coastal waters that are their preferred habitat in the spring. The
density of common dolphin has also shown a gradient towards deeper
waters of the shelf, while bottlenose dolphins show a preference for
coastal waters. Here, we propose updated threshold values of Descriptor
1's criteria 2 and 4 of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive and
identify important habitats for harbour porpoises and bottlenose
dolphins that remain outside of NATURA 2000's scope./
In case you have any queries, do not hesitate to contact me.
Best regards,
Dimitar
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__________________________________________________
*__________________________________________________
**Mr. Dimitar Popov**,**PhD
**Project Coordinator
GREEN BALKANS - Stara Zagora NGO*
BSB00432 EOL
30, Boruygrad str.
Stara Zagora 6000, Bulgaria
Mobile +359 (0)885 108712
E-mail: _dpopov@greenbalkans.org_
http://www.greenbalkans.org
__________________________________________________
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