TY - JOUR
TI - Seasonal and Diel Patterns in Cetacean Use and Foraging at a Potential Marine Renewable Energy Site
AU - Nuuttila, H
AU - Bertelli, C
AU - Mendzil, A
AU - Dearle, N
T2 - Marine Pollution Bulletin
AB - Marine renewable energy (MRE) developments often coincide with sites frequented by small cetaceans. To understand habitat use and assess potential impact from development, echolocation clicks were recorded with acoustic click loggers (C-PODs) in Swansea Bay, Wales (UK). General Additive Models (GAMs) were applied to assess the effects of covariates including month, hour, tidal range and temperature. Analysis of inter-click intervals allowed the identification of potential foraging events as well as patterns of presence and absence. Data revealed year-round presence of porpoise, with distinct seasonal and diel patterns. Occasional acoustic encounters of dolphins were also recorded. This study provides further evidence of the need for assessing temporal trends in cetacean presence and habitat use in areas considered for development. These findings could assist MRE companies to monitor and mitigate against disturbance from construction, operation and decommissioning activities by avoiding times when porpoise presence and foraging activity is highest in the area.
DA - 2018/04//
PY - 2018
VL - 129
IS - 2
SP - 633
EP - 644
UR - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X17308974
DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.10.051
LA - English
KW - Marine Energy
KW - Marine Mammals
KW - Cetaceans
ER -