Long-term trends in the use of a protected area by small cetaceans in relation to changes in population status.

Barbara Cheney; Ross Corkrey; John W. Durban; Kate Grellier; Philip S. Hammond; Valentina Islas-Villanueva; Vincent M. Janik; Susan M. Lusseau; Kim M. Parsons; Nicola J. Quick; Ben Wilson; Paul M. Thompson

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2014.08.010

Long-term trends in the use of a protected area by small cetaceans in relation to changes in population status.

Barbara Cheney, Ross Corkrey, John W. Durban, Kate Grellier, Philip S. Hammond, Valentina Islas-Villanueva, Vincent M. Janik, Susan M. Lusseau, Kim M. Parsons, Nicola J. Quick, Ben Wilson, Paul M. Thompson

University of St Andrews

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

39 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The requirement to monitor listed species in European designated sites is challenging for long-lived mobile species that only temporarily occupy protected areas. We use a 21 year time series of bottlenose dolphin photo-identification data to assess trends in abundance and conservation status within a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in Scotland. Mark–recapture methods were used to estimate annual abundance within the SAC from 1990 to 2010. A Bayesian mark–recapture model with a state-space approach was used to estimate overall population trends using data collected across the populations’ range. Despite inter-annual variability in the number of dolphins within the SAC, there was a >99% probability that the wider population was stable or increasing. Results indicate that use of the SAC by the wider population has declined. This is the first evidence of long-term trends in the use of an EU protected area by small cetaceans in relation to changes in overall population status. Our results highlight the importance of adapting the survey protocols used in long-term photo-identification studies to maintain high capture probabilities and minimise sampling heterogeneity. Crucially, these data demonstrate the value of collecting data from the wider population to assess the success of protected areas designated for mobile predators.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	118-128
Number of pages	11
Journal	Global Ecology and Conservation
Volume	2
Early online date	19 Sept 2014
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2014.08.010
Publication status	Published - Dec 2014

Bibliographical note

We thank all the colleagues who have helped to collect and analyse data, and two anonymous referees for their helpful
comments. The BES, ASAB, Greenpeace Environmental Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Government, Whale and
Dolphin Conservation, Talisman Energy (UK) Ltd., Department of Energy and Climate Change, Chevron, Natural Environment
Research Council (NERC) and the University of Aberdeen all provided funding for annual surveys in the Moray Firth. St.
Andrews Bay surveys were funded by a Royal Society University Research Fellowship to V.M.J., studentships from NERC and
the Mexican National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT), and the University of St. Andrews. Survey work was
conducted under Scottish Natural Heritage Animal Scientific Licences.

Keywords

Abundance
Bayesian
Bottlenose dolphin
Mark-recapture
Photo-identification
Special area of conservation

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Paul Thompson
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Cheney, B., Corkrey, R., Durban, J. W., Grellier, K., Hammond, P. S., Islas-Villanueva, V., Janik, V. M., Lusseau, S. M., Parsons, K. M., Quick, N. J., Wilson, B., & Thompson, P. M. (2014). Long-term trends in the use of a protected area by small cetaceans in relation to changes in population status. Global Ecology and Conservation, 2, 118-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2014.08.010

Cheney, B, Corkrey, R, Durban, JW, Grellier, K, Hammond, PS, Islas-Villanueva, V, Janik, VM, Lusseau, SM, Parsons, KM, Quick, NJ, Wilson, B & Thompson, PM 2014, 'Long-term trends in the use of a protected area by small cetaceans in relation to changes in population status.', Global Ecology and Conservation, vol. 2, pp. 118-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2014.08.010

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title = "Long-term trends in the use of a protected area by small cetaceans in relation to changes in population status.",

abstract = "The requirement to monitor listed species in European designated sites is challenging for long-lived mobile species that only temporarily occupy protected areas. We use a 21 year time series of bottlenose dolphin photo-identification data to assess trends in abundance and conservation status within a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in Scotland. Mark–recapture methods were used to estimate annual abundance within the SAC from 1990 to 2010. A Bayesian mark–recapture model with a state-space approach was used to estimate overall population trends using data collected across the populations{\textquoteright} range. Despite inter-annual variability in the number of dolphins within the SAC, there was a >99% probability that the wider population was stable or increasing. Results indicate that use of the SAC by the wider population has declined. This is the first evidence of long-term trends in the use of an EU protected area by small cetaceans in relation to changes in overall population status. Our results highlight the importance of adapting the survey protocols used in long-term photo-identification studies to maintain high capture probabilities and minimise sampling heterogeneity. Crucially, these data demonstrate the value of collecting data from the wider population to assess the success of protected areas designated for mobile predators.",

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author = "Barbara Cheney and Ross Corkrey and Durban, {John W.} and Kate Grellier and Hammond, {Philip S.} and Valentina Islas-Villanueva and Janik, {Vincent M.} and Lusseau, {Susan M.} and Parsons, {Kim M.} and Quick, {Nicola J.} and Ben Wilson and Thompson, {Paul M.}",

note = "We thank all the colleagues who have helped to collect and analyse data, and two anonymous referees for their helpful comments. The BES, ASAB, Greenpeace Environmental Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Government, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Talisman Energy (UK) Ltd., Department of Energy and Climate Change, Chevron, Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the University of Aberdeen all provided funding for annual surveys in the Moray Firth. St. Andrews Bay surveys were funded by a Royal Society University Research Fellowship to V.M.J., studentships from NERC and the Mexican National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT), and the University of St. Andrews. Survey work was conducted under Scottish Natural Heritage Animal Scientific Licences. ",

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AU - Cheney, Barbara

AU - Corkrey, Ross

AU - Durban, John W.

AU - Grellier, Kate

AU - Hammond, Philip S.

AU - Islas-Villanueva, Valentina

AU - Janik, Vincent M.

AU - Lusseau, Susan M.

AU - Parsons, Kim M.

AU - Quick, Nicola J.

AU - Wilson, Ben

AU - Thompson, Paul M.

N1 - We thank all the colleagues who have helped to collect and analyse data, and two anonymous referees for their helpful comments. The BES, ASAB, Greenpeace Environmental Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Government, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Talisman Energy (UK) Ltd., Department of Energy and Climate Change, Chevron, Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the University of Aberdeen all provided funding for annual surveys in the Moray Firth. St. Andrews Bay surveys were funded by a Royal Society University Research Fellowship to V.M.J., studentships from NERC and the Mexican National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT), and the University of St. Andrews. Survey work was conducted under Scottish Natural Heritage Animal Scientific Licences.

PY - 2014/12

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N2 - The requirement to monitor listed species in European designated sites is challenging for long-lived mobile species that only temporarily occupy protected areas. We use a 21 year time series of bottlenose dolphin photo-identification data to assess trends in abundance and conservation status within a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in Scotland. Mark–recapture methods were used to estimate annual abundance within the SAC from 1990 to 2010. A Bayesian mark–recapture model with a state-space approach was used to estimate overall population trends using data collected across the populations’ range. Despite inter-annual variability in the number of dolphins within the SAC, there was a >99% probability that the wider population was stable or increasing. Results indicate that use of the SAC by the wider population has declined. This is the first evidence of long-term trends in the use of an EU protected area by small cetaceans in relation to changes in overall population status. Our results highlight the importance of adapting the survey protocols used in long-term photo-identification studies to maintain high capture probabilities and minimise sampling heterogeneity. Crucially, these data demonstrate the value of collecting data from the wider population to assess the success of protected areas designated for mobile predators.

AB - The requirement to monitor listed species in European designated sites is challenging for long-lived mobile species that only temporarily occupy protected areas. We use a 21 year time series of bottlenose dolphin photo-identification data to assess trends in abundance and conservation status within a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in Scotland. Mark–recapture methods were used to estimate annual abundance within the SAC from 1990 to 2010. A Bayesian mark–recapture model with a state-space approach was used to estimate overall population trends using data collected across the populations’ range. Despite inter-annual variability in the number of dolphins within the SAC, there was a >99% probability that the wider population was stable or increasing. Results indicate that use of the SAC by the wider population has declined. This is the first evidence of long-term trends in the use of an EU protected area by small cetaceans in relation to changes in overall population status. Our results highlight the importance of adapting the survey protocols used in long-term photo-identification studies to maintain high capture probabilities and minimise sampling heterogeneity. Crucially, these data demonstrate the value of collecting data from the wider population to assess the success of protected areas designated for mobile predators.

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KW - Bayesian

KW - Bottlenose dolphin

KW - Mark-recapture

KW - Photo-identification

KW - Special area of conservation

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DO - 10.1016/j.gecco.2014.08.010

M3 - Article

SN - 2351-9894

VL - 2

SP - 118

EP - 128

JO - Global Ecology and Conservation

JF - Global Ecology and Conservation

ER -

Long-term trends in the use of a protected area by small cetaceans in relation to changes in population status.

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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