First video documented presence of Mediterranean monk seal in Southern Apulia (Italy)

Sightings of Endangered monk seal (Monachus monachus) specimens have been increasingly reported along the coasts of its historic Mediterranean distribution over the last two decades, even from countries where the species was considered extinct for about half a century. These encounters have been documented and verified particularly along the coasts of the Adriatic-Ionian basin. The activities carried out in Salento (Southern Apulia, Italy) since 2012, engaging with local protected areas, authorities and different stakeholders (organizations, museums, universities, fishermen’s cooperatives and tourism sectors enterprises) allowed us to record and verify 10 monk seal sightings (from 2009 to 2014) in the area. However, the last sighting with photographic documentation dates back to 1973. In June 2017, after six years of monitoring and awareness of the territory, immediately after the sighting, we received a video evidence of such presence. The footage, and the resulting interview with the witnesses, documented the presence of a Mediterranean monk seal’s specimen, about 2 meters in length, along the coast of Tricase (Lecce, Apulia). This new event has a remarkable importance to the hypothesis that Salento and the Adriatic-Ionian basin might play an important role in the overall conservation of the specie

Towards a strategy for the recovering of the Mediterranean monk seal in the Adriatic-Ionian Basin

Occasional but recurrent sightings indicate that the endangered Mediterranean monk seal is still present in most of its historical range within the Adriatic-Ionian region in the central Mediterranean Sea. However, in most of the adjacent countries, the species' abundance and distribution are practically unknown. An actively reproducing sub-population with a minimum of 25 adult/sub-adult seals lives in the Greek central Ionian Sea. The latter can form a nucleus from which the entire Adriatic-Ionian Basin could be re-colonized if adequate conservation measures are implemented throughout the area and in a coordinated manner. We examine the historical presence in the region as a baseline for providing a benchmark for conservation. We further look into the species' habitat availability, possibilities for a rapid population assessment and various parameters that are considered crucial for its conservation, such as the existence of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), corridors for connectivity purposes as well as needs for raising public awareness. We recommend a series of interlinked actions within the framework of a conservation strategy the implementation of which will ensure the conditions for maintaining ecologically, demographically, and genetically viable sub-populations of this species emblematic for the entire Mediterranean Sea. To achieve this goal, a coalition of partners from this area is required in order to adopt the strategy and jointly implement the measures required

Le collezioni museali naturalistiche come fondamentale risorsa nella ricerca scientifica: distribuzione spazio-temporale dei reperti di grandi vertebrati marini nei musei italiani

Il patrimonio culturale marino italiano ha per tradizione e storia un’imponente ricchezza di collezioni museali naturalistiche, con migliaia di reperti ossei e tassidermizzati di vertebrati marini, costruite in oltre due secoli di attività. I reperti museali rappresentano la conoscenza primaria ed unica della biodiversità organismica ed ecosistemica storica del Mediterraneo e costituiscono un ampio archivio di tessuti e dati scientifici potenzialmente sfruttabile grazie alle nuove tecnologie biomolecolari per comprendere pattern, processi e possibili cause della perdita di biodiversità, degrado degli ecosistemi e declino delle popolazioni. Con l’obiettivo di ricostruire le traiettorie evolutive ed ecologiche di specie e popolazioni di grandi predatori marini del Mediterraneo (cetacei ed elasmobranchi) abbiamo costituito un network di 25 collezioni osteologiche museali (universitarie e civiche) e private italiane, da cui abbiamo ottenuto oltre 500 campioni (fotografie geometriche e tessuti biologici di crani, rostri, mascelle, vertebre e denti) di individui storici di Delphinus delphis, Stenella coeruleoalba, Tursiops truncatus, Carcharodon carcharias, quattro specie di pesce sega dei generi Pristis e Anoxypristis, otto specie di cetacei mediterranei e la foca monaca (Monachus monachus). Il presente lavoro descrive i risultati, in termini di numero e di distribuzione, dei reperti di alcune specie di grandi predatori marini e mette in evidenza il valore storico, culturale e scientifico delle collezioni museali, in particolar modo per gruppi di organismi di particolare interesse conservazionistico

Sightings and historical presence of Mediterranean monk seal along the coast of Salento (Southern Italy).

The Mediterranean monk seal is disappearing along most of its former habitat. Nevertheless, occasional sightings were reported in areas where there are no records of resident seal populations. It is unclear whether those occurrences represent vagrants or animals coming from the remnant breeding nuclei. In this study, we collected recent monk seal sightings in the period 2000-2015 in Salento (Apulia, Italy) using two combined research methods: 1) surveys among local population following a specific protocol, developed and applied since the 90ies in western Greece; and 2) interviews to coastal fishermen using a questionnaire specifically developed for our purpose. Despite the low frequency of the encounters, the combination of our data with the historical information on the species suggests that the lack of knowledge about the local presence of this pinniped is mainly due to shortage of sampling efforts. In agreement with the international legal framework devoted to the protection of this marine mammal, it is crucial to increase spatial conservation measures at a wide scale as well as trans-boundary protection where specimens are spotted. Such measures might eventually facilitate the stable return of monk seals as well as ensure the overall improvement of biodiversity

Another top predator in the list: microplastics in Mediterranean Monk Seals.

Mediterranean Sea has been considered one of the areas with highest density of plastics. This is a particular Sea Region where one of the most critically marine mammal species, the Mediterranean monk seal, inhabit. The incidence of plastics, including microplastics, in this species has not been investigate yet. In this study we present the fi rst results about incidence of microplastics in this predator through scat analysis. Scat samples from north Adriatic (Istria- Croatia, n=4) and south Tyrrhenian (Sicily-Italy, n=4) seas were collected and analyzed for both microplastics and dietary investigations. Microplastic separation and identifi cation was carried out following previous methodology adapted for scat samples. In all samples, only demersal fi sh was identifi ed, but only 30% of the samples contained microplastics (fi bers). Although the study was carried out with limited sample size, the trophic transfer possibility is discussed. In addition, we underline the importance of this information for an endangered mammal such as the Mediterranean monk seal, and the use of scats for the fi rst time for this species