Dear colleagues,
We are glad to inform you that following article was recently published
in Environmental Science and Policy.
Peltier & Ridoux, 2015. MARINE MEGAVERTEBRATES ADRIFT: A FRAMEWORK FOR THE
INTERPRETATION OF STRANDING DATA IN PERSPECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN MARINE STRATEGY
FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE AND OTHER REGIONAL AGREEMENTS.
Abstract:
For many species of marine megafauna, strandings remain the most important source of biological
samples. Because of their opportunistic nature however, strandings data have
long been under- or
misused in the assessment of population conservation status. Even if many
national and international
regulations promote the use of strandings in monitoring strategies, the
interpretation of strandings
remains controversial. The aim of this study is to provide a context for the
interpretation of marine
megafauna stranding data, in order to assess the achievement of specific
objectives against Good
Environmental Status criteria in the context of the EU Marine Strategy
Framework Directive or other
regional agreements. The first step is to construct an a priori spatial
distribution under a null hypothesis
H0. The a priori spatial distribution of theoretical dead animals can either be
set uniformly, consistent
with current knowledge on abundance of marine vertebrates, or based on
management objectives. The
drift prediction of these theoretical carcasses would provide a time series of
strandings expected under
the null hypothesis. The reverse drift of observed strandings would highlight
mortality areas of stranded
animals. The correction of these areas by the probability of getting stranded
according to drift conditions
would provide an estimated distribution of dead animals inferred from
strandings. The differences
between expected and observed situations constitute anomalies and highlight
cases where inferred
distribution departs from the a priori spatial distribution. This work proposes
several population
indicators that can be used anywhere in the world and can be applied for all
large marine vertebrates
found stranded. The integration of these indicators in MSFD and various
regional agreements could
provide cost-effective and relevant information on protected species. In the
context of impaired
ecological situations, the complementary use of several population indicators
could strengthen the
diagnosis made regarding conservation status and hence conservation strategies.
King regards,
Helene Peltier
Marine megavertebrates adrift: A framework for the interpretation of stranding
data in perspective of the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive and
other regional agreements
--
Helene PELTIER, phD
Observatoire PELAGIS, UMS 3462 CNRS/Université La Rochelle
5 allées de l'océan
17000 LA ROCHELLE, FRANCE
office: +33 5 16 49 67 82
cell phone: +33 6 82 74 08 41
_______________________________________________
MARMAM mailing list
MARMAM@lists.uvic.ca
https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
