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Connectivity in the network macrostructure of Tursiops truncatus in the Pelagos Sanctuary (NW Mediterranean Sea): does landscape matter?

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Population Ecology

Abstract

The bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus Montagu, 1821) is a regularly observed species in the Mediterranean Sea, but its network organization has never been investigated on a large scale. We described the network macrostructure of the bottlenose dolphin (meta)population inhabiting the Pelagos Sanctuary (a wide protected area located in the north-western portion of the Mediterranean basin) and we analysed its connectivity in relation to the landscape traits. We pooled effort and sighting data collected by 13 different research institutions operating within the Pelagos Sanctuary from 1994 to 2011 to examine the distribution of bottlenose dolphins in the Pelagos study area and then we applied a social network analysis, investigating the association patterns of the photo-identified dolphins (806 individuals in 605 sightings). The bottlenose dolphin (meta)population inhabiting the Pelagos Sanctuary is clustered in discrete units whose borders coincide with habitat breakages. This complex structure seems to be shaped by the geo-morphological and ecological features of the landscape, through a mechanism of local specialization of the resident dolphins. Five distinct clusters were identified in the (meta)population and two of them were solid enough to be further investigated and compared. Significant differences were found in the network parameters, suggesting a different social organization of the clusters, possibly as a consequence of the different local specialization.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the Pelagos partners who contributed to the data collection. In particular: Frank Dhermain and Franck Dupraz from GECEM, Léa David and Nathalie di Meglio from écoOcéan Institut, Silvio Nuti from CE.TU.S., Sabina Airoldi and Arianna Azzellino from Tethys Research Institute, Patrizia Bonelli and Gionata Montesi from Ambiente Mare, Nicola Portunato from NURC, Roberta Trucchi from WWF Liguria, Sophie Laran, Giovanni Caltavuturo, Davide Bedocchi. We also would like to thank all the partners of GIONHA (Governance and Integrated Observation of Marine Natural Habitat, http://www.gionha.eu) sharing their data on the Intercet Platform: Ilaria Fasce from Regione Liguria, Fabrizio Serena from ARPAT, Sergio Ventrella from Regione Toscana, Elisabetta Secci from Regione Sardegna, Massimo Tognotti from Provincia di Livorno, Madeleine Cancemi from OEC (Office de l’Environnement de la Corse). Unità di Ricerca dei Cetacei (University of Genova), Cooperativa Pelagos, Area Marina Protetta Tavolara—Punta Coda Cavallo. We would also like to acknowledge the support given by the “Dottorato di Scienze Ambientali: Ambiente Marino e Risorse” of the University of Messina and Prof. Emilio de Domenico. Thanks to Giulia Mo, for her invaluable support in the review of the English language.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Biologia Animale ed Ecologia Marina, Università degli studi di Messina, Salita Sperone, 31, 98166, Messina, Italy

    Massimiliano Carnabuci

  2. Università degli studi di Genova, Via Balbi 5, 16126, Genoa, Italy

    Giulia Schiavon

  3. Acquario di Genova, Area Porto Antico, Ponte Spinola, 16128, Genoa, Italy

    Michela Bellingeri, Fulvio Fossa & Guido Gnone

  4. Università degli Studi di Genova (DISTAV), Corso Europa 26, 16132, Genoa, Italy

    Chiara Paoli & Paolo Vassallo

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  1. Massimiliano Carnabuci
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Carnabuci, M., Schiavon, G., Bellingeri, M. et al. Connectivity in the network macrostructure of Tursiops truncatus in the Pelagos Sanctuary (NW Mediterranean Sea): does landscape matter?. Popul Ecol 58, 249–264 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10144-016-0540-7

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