title: Cetacean response to summer maritime traffic in the Western Mediterranean Sea.
abstract: Maritime traffic is one of many anthropogenic pressures threatening the marine environment. This study was specifically designed to investigate the relationship between vessels presence and cetacean sightings in the high sea areas of the Western Mediterranean Sea region. We recorded and compared the total number of vessels in the presence and absence of cetacean sightings using data gathered during the summer season (2009-2013) along six fixed transects repeatedly surveyed. In locations with cetacean sightings (N = 2667), nautical traffic was significantly lower, by 20%, compared to random locations where no sightings occurred (N = 1226): all cetacean species, except bottlenose dolphin, were generally observed in locations with lower vessel abundance. In different areas the species showed variable results likely influenced by a combination of biological and local environmental factors. The approach of this research helped create, for the first time, a wide vision of the different responses of animals towards a common pressure.
authors.affiliation: Tuscia University, Dep. of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Ichthyogenic Experimental Marine Center (CISMAR), Borgo Le Saline, 01016 Tarquinia, VT, Italy; Accademia del Leviatano, V.le dell'Astronomia 19, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Campana
authors.affiliation: ISPRA, IV Dep. STS Palermo, Via S. Puglisi 9, 90123 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crosti
authors.affiliation: Tuscia University, Dep. of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Ichthyogenic Experimental Marine Center (CISMAR), Borgo Le Saline, 01016 Tarquinia, VT, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Angeletti
authors.affiliation: Pisa University, Dep. of Biology, Via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carosso
authors.affiliation: EcoOcéan Institut, 18 Rue des Hospices, 34090 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: David
authors.affiliation: EcoOcéan Institut, 18 Rue des Hospices, 34090 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Di-Méglio
authors.affiliation: CIMA Research Foundation, V. Magliotto 2, 17100 Savona, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moulins
authors.affiliation: CIMA Research Foundation, V. Magliotto 2, 17100 Savona, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosso
authors.affiliation: CIMA Research Foundation, V. Magliotto 2, 17100 Savona, Italy; Genoa University, Dep. of Informatics Bioengineering Robotics and System Engineering (DIBRIS), Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tepsich
authors.affiliation: ISPRA, V. Brancati 48, 00144 Rome, Italy; Roma TRE University, Dep. of Sciences, V.le G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: antonella.arcangeli@isprambiente.it.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arcangeli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002591:Cetacea / Q000502:physiology*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D011156:Population Density; D012621:Seasons; D012767:Ships
keywords: Cetaceans; Conservation measures; Maritime traffic; Mediterranean Sea; Monitoring