Abstract
The waters off north-west Scotland are known to provide important habitat for the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) and the minkewhale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). Between October 2008 and April 2011, systematic land-based surveys were carried out to assess the seasonal occurrence, group size and group behaviours of both species in a study area located off Melvaig, near Gairloch. Data were collected on 47 separate days, with a total of 4543 minutes of survey effort (in sea states
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1185-1194 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom |
Volume | 94 |
Issue number | 6 |
Early online date | 9 May 2013 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sep 2014 |
Keywords
- land-based surveys
- harbour porpoise
- Phocoena phocoena
- minke whale
- Balaenoptera acutorostrata
- The Minch
- north-west Scotland
- white-beaked dolphins
- habitat preferences
- relative abundance
- Aberdeenshire UK
- Moray Firth
- cetaceans
- waters
- sea
- trends
- sites