@article{,

title = {Using emerging hot spot analysis of stranding records to inform conservation management of a data-poor cetacean species},

author = {Betty, Emma L.,Bollard, Barbara,Murphy, Sinéad,Ogle, Mike,Hendriks, Hannah,Orams, Mark B.,Stockin, Karen A.},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-019-01903-8},

issn = {1572-9710},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-01-01},

journal = {Biodiversity and Conservation},

number = {327},

abstract = {Conservation monitoring of highly mobile species in relatively inaccessible habitats presents a considerable challenge to wildlife biologists. Effective conservation strategies require knowledge of cetacean ecology that is often challenging and expensive to obtain. Despite their caveats, stranding data represent an underused resource to study the long-term dynamics of cetacean populations. Using long-finned pilot whale (LFPW; Globicephala melas edwardii) strandings on the New Zealand coast as a case study, we present a novel approach to demonstrate how stranding data can inform conservation management of data-poor species. A total of 8571 LFPWs stranded on the New Zealand coast within a 40-year period between January 1978 and December 2017. Overall, where sex was recorded, mass stranded adults were significantly biased towards females, while a significant male bias was observed in juveniles. Strandings occurred in all months, though significant seasonal variation was evident, with 66% of stranding events reported during austral spring and summer months (October–February). Hot spot analysis (ArcGIS) identified the majority of LFPWs stranded at Golden Bay, Great Barrier Island, Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands, with emerging hot spot analysis (ArcGIS) used to identify spatiotemporal trends. While emerging hot spot analysis revealed no significant temporal trend in the annual frequency of stranding events or numbers of individuals stranded, it did reveal a significant spatiotemporal trend, with the numbers of stranded individuals declining in areas of the Far North, Coromandel, Canterbury, Otago and the Chatham Islands, and increasing in Golden Bay and Stewart Island. When combined with other contextual information, such trends help identify the most significant clusters of LFPW strandings on the New Zealand coast, provide baseline ecological data on a poorly understood subspecies, and can be used to guide conservation management of G. m. edwardii in New Zealand waters.},

keywords = {Distribution, Globicephala melas, Long finned pilot whale, mass mortality, Mass Stranding, New Zealand, stranding},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {The relationship between algal blooms, fish kill incidents, and oxygen depletions along the Omani coast},

author = {Piontkovski, SA,Al-Gheilani, HMH,Jupp, B,Sarma, YVB,Al-Azri, AR},

issn = {0973-2667},

year  = {2012},

date = {2012-01-01},

journal = {International Journal of Oceans and Oceanography},

volume = {6},

number = {429},

pages = {145-177},

abstract = {A persistence of hypoxia is a common feature for the Sea of Oman, and the

western Arabian Sea. By using historical data complemented by ongoing

measurements, the relationship between the frequency of harmful algal

blooms, fish kill incidents, and oxygen depletions, was investigated. In the Sea

of Oman, the seasonal pattern exhibited a tendency of fish kill incidents to

increase, from January to November. In the western Arabian Sea, the pattern

was different- maximal occurrence of fish kill incidences was observed in

December and January. In 1988-2011, the number of harmful algal blooms

accompanied by fish kills was 4 times higher for the Sea of Oman (N= 91)

compared to the Arabian Sea coast (N= 22), whereas the total number of fish

kill incidents was about the same (22 versus 25). This means that the Arabian

Sea coast faced more frequent harmful blooms than the Sea of Oman. The Sea

of Oman coastal time series of the dissolved oxygen concentration implied a

steady decline throughout the year, from January to December. The fish kill

incidents in this region were mainly driven by oxygen depletions, whereas in

the Arabian Sea these incidents were mediated by the harmful algal blooms

along with the oxygen depletions. In analyzing the Omani coast as a whole,

the Ridge Multiple Regression Analysis implied the dissolved oxygen

concentration and monthly occurrence of algal blooms as the two variables

explaining 75% of the seasonal variations in fish kill incidents.},

keywords = {Arabian Sea, fish kill, Gulf of Oman, Harmful Algal Bloom, mass mortality, oxygen minimum, Sea of Oman, seasonal change, Sultanate of Oman},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Interannual changes in the Sea of Oman ecosystem},

author = {Piontkovski, Sergey A,Al-Gheilani, Hamed MH,Jupp, Barry P,Al-Azri, Adnan R,Al-Hashmi, Khalid A},

year  = {2012},

date = {2012-01-01},

journal = {Open Mar Biol J},

volume = {6},

number = {431},

pages = {38-52},

abstract = {Historical data were used to estimate interannual tendencies for the Sea of Oman over the past 50 years.

Declining trends were shown for the atmospheric surface level pressure in the region affected by the Siberian High

atmospheric anomaly, the zonal component of wind speed, concentration of nitrates, biomass of diatoms and sardine

landings. Changes in Zooplankton biomass showed no clear trend. These trends were associated with and accompanied by

rising atmospheric temperature, sea surface temperature, annual variability of the kinetic energy of mesoscale eddies,

frequency of fish kills (along with the death of other animals- dolphins, turtles, and sea birds) and harmful algal bloom

incidents. In terms of interannual coupling between physical and biological processes, the evaluated trends imply that the

weakening of the Siberian High atmospheric anomaly results in the decline of the zonal wind speed and a regional

increase of air temperature. This in turn increases the temperature in the mixed layer which strengthens thermo-haline

stratification of the water column. Increasing stratification prevents the penetration of nutrients into the mixed layer and

does not favor the interannual increase of biological productivity, although annual variation of biological productivity has

increased, from 1997 to 2008.},

keywords = {Gulf of Oman, Harmful Algal Bloom, Hydro-biology, Interannual variability, mass mortality, oceanography, Sea of Oman, Sultanate of Oman, zooplankton},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {First confirmation of occurrence of the pan-tropical spotted dolphin, },

author = {Kiani, S. M.,Iqbal, P.,Siddiqui, P. J. A.},

year  = {2011},

date = {2011-01-01},

journal = {Marine Biodiversity Records},

volume = {4},

number = {133},

pages = {doi:10.1017/S1755267211000601},

abstract = {The pan-tropical spotted dolphin Stenella attenuata is typically found in deep tropical and warm temperate waters and has been previously confirmed from the waters of most of Pakistan's neighbouring countries. However, to date, there has been no record of this species from Pakistan. This paper reports the first confirmed occurrence of this species in Pakistani waters, specifically a mass stranding event of 200–250 animals on 6 March 2009. The animals live stranded and all except two were rescued. These possibly died as a result of being stranded for a long time on the beach in hot, arid conditions that generally prevail along the coastline of Pakistan. All the animals appeared healthy but the exact cause of this mass stranding event could not be determined. Being the first confirmed record of this species in Pakistan, this information is an important addition and consideration for the Pakistan Biodiversity Action Plan.},

keywords = {Arabian Sea, mass mortality, naval activity, Pakistan, spotted dolphin, stenella attenuata},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {A retropsective investigation of two dolphin mass mortality events in Iran, autumn 2007},

author = {Braulik, G.,Savadkouhi, O.S.,Fadakar, S.,Mohammadi, H.,Brownell Jr, R.L.,Reeves, R. R.,Nabavi, M.B.,Fernandez, A.},

year  = {2010},

date = {2010-01-01},

journal = {Zoology in the Middle East},

volume = {49},

number = {335},

pages = {13-26},

abstract = {During the autumn of 2007, two mass mortality events involving at least 152 small cetaceans were reported from southern Iran. Both events occurred on the Gulf of Oman coast near the town of Bandar Jask, and were separated by a month in time and more than 170 km in distance.

 

The first event, on 20 September 2007, involved 79 animals, probably all spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris). Dead animals, all exhibiting a similar degree of decomposition, drifted to shore along 13 km of coastline over a period of approximately 24 hours. These circumstances suggest that the mortality was caused by a single acute event at sea.  Several carcasses had evidence of traumatic injuries, the stranding event was spatially and temporally coincident with an active fishing ground, and other potentially bycaught and discarded species were found on the beach.  This pattern is generally consistent with the hypothesis that the dolphin mortality was caused by fishing operations, although the available data are insufficient to confirm that hypothesis unequivocally.

 

On 24 October 2007 there was a mass stranding of 73 live striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba).  The striped dolphin is a pelagic species believed to be rare in the Gulf of Oman.  The most likely explanation for this mass stranding is that the dolphin group was trapped by a falling tide among the complex sandbanks of the Kangan estuary. Striped dolphins are not normally found in shallow water or near shore, and their occurrence in this area is considered unusual. The factor or factors that caused them to enter this atypical habitat remain unknown.

 

The two mass mortality events involved different species and exhibited many different characteristics; there is no evidence to suggest that they were linked.  As the cetacean fauna of Iran is little known, it is hoped that the great national and international interest generated by these events will enhance Iran’s capacity and motivation for research and conservation of marine mammals.},

keywords = {Arabian Gulf, cetaceans, Gulf of Oman, Iran, mass mortality, Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris, stranding},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}