El valor económico no consumitivo de la vida salvaje: el caso de tres especies de cetáceos

The conservation of wildlife is one of the most pressing issues in the current times, but wildlife conservation economic values have often been largely ignored due to an absence of market prices, as setting an economic value on biodiversity or whole ecosystems can be challenging. Nevertheless, valuing wildlife can be of great significance to improve decision-making in the conservation field, as it can provide a complementary perspective based on economic principles. Whale-watching provides an opportunity for the economic valuation of wildlife. Specifically, it offers a framework in which the economic revenue allows the economic valuation of the targeted cetaceans to be estimated through the direct and indirect expenditure of the tourists who purchase whale-watching tours. Here, we performed an economic analysis based on population abundances of the three main species targeted by the whale-watching companies in the Strait of Gibraltar (Spain): long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas), common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and killer whales (Orcinus orca). These species generated a total annual income of €4,089,056, €1,876,833, and €505,389, respectively, and each individual would generate an average of €14,048, €951, and €36,099 each year, respectively. Incorporating life expectancy, this corresponded to a total population value of €112,426,185, €16,685,147, and €19,171,107, respectively, over their lifetime. These values provide an idea of the potential contribution of cetaceans to the local economy but only represent their non-consumptive value based on tourism. Our results reinforce the idea that a sustainable, high-quality whale-watching culture, under ACCOBAMS High-Quality Whale-Watching requirements, should be promoted to ensure a sustainable industry, stable economic income and the viability of cetacean populations in the Strait of Gibraltar.La conservación de la vida salvaje es uno de los retos clave del mundo actual. Sin embargo, los valores económicos derivados de la conservación de la vida salvaje a menudo han sido pasados por alto debido a la ausencia de precios de mercado, ya que asignar un valor económico a la biodiversidad o a ecosistemas enteros puede ser complejo. No obstante, valorar la vida salvaje puede ser de gran importancia para mejorar la toma de decisiones en el campo de la conservación, ya que puede proporcionar una perspectiva complementaria basada en principios económicos. El avistamiento de cetáceos brinda una oportunidad para realizar este tipo de valoración económica. Específicamente, ofrece un marco en el cual los ingresos económicos generados permiten la evaluación y estimación del valor económico de los cetáceos objetivo basado en el gasto directo e indirecto de los turistas que realizan tours de avistamiento de cetáceos. En este estudio, realizamos un análisis económico basado en las abundancias poblacionales de las tres principales especies objetivo de las compañías de avistamiento de cetáceos en el Estrecho de Gibraltar (España): calderones comunes (Globicephala melas), delfines comunes (Delphinus delphis) y orcas (Orcinus orca). Estas especies generaron respectivamente un ingreso total anual de 4.089.056 €, 1.876.833 € y 505.389 €, donde cada individuo generaría un promedio de 14.048 €, 951 € y 36.099€ cada año. Al incorporar la esperanza de vida, esto se correspondió con un valor total de la población de 112.426.185 €, 16.685.147 € y 19.171.107 € a lo largo de su vida. Estos valores brindan una idea de la contribución potencial de los cetáceos a la economía local, pero solo representan su valor no consumitivo basado en el turismo. Nuestros resultados refuerzan la idea de que se debe promover una cultura de avistamiento de cetáceos sostenible y de alta calidad, bajo los requisitos de observación de cetáceos de alta calidad de ACCOBAMS, para garantizar una industria sostenible, ingresos económicos estables y la viabilidad de las poblaciones de cetáceos en el Estrecho de Gibraltar

Morbillivirus and Pilot Whale Deaths, Mediterranean Sea

An outbreak of a lethal morbillivirus infection of long-finned pilot whales occurred in the Mediterranean Sea from the end of October 2006 through April 2007. Sequence analysis of a 426-bp conserved fragment of the morbillivirus phosphoprotein gene indicates that the virus is more closely related to dolphin morbillivirus than to pilot whale morbillivirus

Fine scale population genomics of the bottlenose dolphin off Western Iberia (northeast Atlantic)

34th European Cetacean Society Conference, O Grove, 16-20 April 2023Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) populations sampled across various geographic regions show fine-scale patterns of genetic structure, likely associated with local habitat preferences. Several population genetic studies have focused on populations from the northeast Atlantic Ocean (NEA), very few including the Portuguese coast. This study investigated the population structure and demographic history of the bottlenose dolphin in this region using double digest restriction site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq). Samples were collected from the Iberian Peninsula including SW Spain, the Portuguese coast (including Sado estuary), NW Spain and from two Portuguese Macaronesian archipelagos, Madeira and Azores (N=110 samples). We genotyped thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms markers to study the fine-scale population structure, inbreeding levels and demographic history. Bayesian clustering and Principal Component Analyses showed three major genetic clusters: Pelagic (incl. Madeira and Azores; North Galicia, Portugal coast), Southern/Mediterranean (incl. Gibraltar/Cadiz, previously identified as of Mediterranean origin, and Portugal coast), and Resident (Sado and south Galicia). These clusters differ from each other in terms of genetic diversity and inbreeding levels. While the Pelagic and Southern/Med clusters shows high genetic diversity and a wide geographic distribution, the Resident populations show the opposite. The Resident cluster can be subdivided in Galicia and Sado populations, the latter revealing concerning levels of inbreeding. Preliminary demographic analyses suggest that the Resident populations diverged from the others prior to the Southern/Med-Pelagic divergence, although further analyses are needed. Our results suggest that i) the Resident populations of the Iberian Peninsula should be considered as different management units; ii) bottlenose dolphins sampled along the Portuguese coast are highly genetically diverse, including individuals from the three different clusters; and iii) the Sado population faces a critical situation. Within the framework of the recently proposed SACs for bottlenose dolphins in Portugal, these results highlight the importance of discussions on conservation and management policiesN

Mitogenomic phylogenetic analyses of the Delphinidae with an emphasis on the Globicephalinae

BACKGROUND: Previous DNA-based phylogenetic studies of the Delphinidae family suggest it has undergone rapid diversification, as characterised by unresolved and poorly supported taxonomic relationships (polytomies) for some of the species within this group. Using an increased amount of sequence data we test between alternative hypotheses of soft polytomies caused by rapid speciation, slow evolutionary rate and/or insufficient sequence data, and hard polytomies caused by simultaneous speciation within this family. Combining the mitogenome sequences of five new and 12 previously published species within the Delphinidae, we used Bayesian and maximum-likelihood methods to estimate the phylogeny from partitioned and unpartitioned mitogenome sequences. Further ad hoc tests were then conducted to estimate the support for alternative topologies. RESULTS: We found high support for all the relationships within our reconstructed phylogenies, and topologies were consistent between the Bayesian and maximum-likelihood trees inferred from partitioned and unpartitioned data. Resolved relationships included the placement of the killer whale (Orcinus orca) as sister taxon to the rest of the Globicephalinae subfamily, placement of the Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) within the Globicephalinae subfamily, removal of the white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) from the Delphininae subfamily and the placement of the rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis) as sister taxon to the rest of the Delphininae subfamily rather than within the Globicephalinae subfamily. The additional testing of alternative topologies allowed us to reject all other putative relationships, with the exception that we were unable to reject the hypothesis that the relationship between L. albirostris and the Globicephalinae and Delphininae subfamilies was polytomic. CONCLUSION: Despite their rapid diversification, the increased sequence data yielded by mitogenomes enables the resolution of a strongly supported, bifurcating phylogeny, and a chronology of the divergences within the Delphinidae family. This highlights the benefits and potential application of large mitogenome datasets to resolve long-standing phylogenetic uncertainties

The role of synchronized swimming as affiliative and anti-predatory behavior in long-finned pilot whales

Synchronized swimming in cetaceans has been hypothesized to play a role in affiliative processes as well as anti-predatory responses. We compared observed variation in synchronized swimming at two research sites in relation to disturbance exposure to test these two hypotheses. This study describes and quantifies pair synchronization in long-finned pilot whales at the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain and Cape Breton, Canada. Synchronization differed depending on the behavioral state and the response is different in the two sites leading to the conclusion that environment can shape the occurrence and magnitude of certain behaviors. We also analyzed intra-population variations in synchronization among 4 social units of Pilot whales in the Strait of Gibraltar and the results of this study confirmed the affiliative role of synchronization and highlighted an influence of disturbance on synchronization. We can conclude that synchronization is a common behavior in long-finned pilot whales that allow for close proximity and rapid coordinated response of individuals, with the multiple functions of showing affiliation and reacting to disturbance. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.Peer Reviewe

Strong impact of epizootics on long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) in Strait of Gibraltar

Trabajo presentado en la World Marine Mammal Conference (WMMC 2019), celebrada en Barcelona del 7 al 12 de diciembre de 2019 (workshops and main conference).The Strait of Gibraltar is one of the world’s areas with more maritime activity, and cetaceans inhabiting this area, as is the long-finned pilot whale population, are threatened by noise and chemical pollution, overfishing and collisions by the many boats crossing the strait. One of the greatest threat identified until now for the species in the Mediterranean are epizootics that severely affect the most sensitive vital rate in long live species: adult survival. By multi-event analysis of a 16 years’ database of photo-identification capture-recapture data, we analyse adult survival in the Strait of Gibraltar resident population and evaluate the effects of epizootics. We identify the severe effect of an epizootic morbillivirus episode occurred in 2006, but we also evidence a second collapse in survival in 2011, probably due to an another morbillivirus epizootic. These episodes seem to differently affect both sexes, with females being less affected than males. Interestingly, morbillivirus epizootic not only sharply decreased survival after the episode but the effect extended over time, probably showing a post-epizootic chronic effect. Epizootics seem to be dramatically frequent in the Gibraltar area. These lethal disease outbreaks are often the consequence of herd immunity decline that could be linked to anthropogenic threats like organochlorine contamination, thus the strong maritime activity and contamination at the area may put this population and the whole ecosystem at higher risks of epizootics. We warn about the conservation status of the long-finned pilot whale population and suggest revising their conservation classification at a local scale. We also advise to apply measures to reduce contamination on this nutrient-rich to improve conditions for many marine species inhabiting this area

Sharp decreases in survival probabilities in the long‑fnned pilot whales in Strait of Gibraltar

Este artículo contiene 9 páginas, 3 tablas, 1 figura.The Strait of Gibraltar has some of the highest maritime activity in the world. Its populations of cetaceans are threatened by noise, chemical pollution, and collisions by the many boats crossing the strait. One of the greatest threats identifed in cetaceans in the Mediterranean are epizootics that severely afect the most sensitive vital rate in long-lived species: adult survival. By a multi-event analysis of a 16-year database of long-fnned pilot whale photo identifcation capture–recapture data, we analysed adult survival in the Strait of Gibraltar’s resident population and evaluated the possible efects of epizootics on this vital rate. We identifed the large efect of a morbillivirus epizootic that occurred in 2006–2007, but we also revealed a second collapse in survival in 2011, probably due to another morbillivirus epizootic. These episodes seem to afect sexes diferently, with females being less afected than males. Interestingly, the morbillivirus epizootic not only sharply decreased survival after the episode, but the efect extended over time, probably showing post-epizootic sequelae. These disease outbreaks have increased during the last decades worldwide and could be linked to anthropogenic threats such as organochlorine contamination. This may explain the high frequency of epizootics in the Gibraltar area. We warn about the conservation status of this long-fnned pilot whale population and recommend the application of measures to reduce contamination on this nutrient-rich area to improve conditions for many marine species inhabiting this area.e. This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science (CGL2017-85210) and by Agence Erasmus+France. Funding were partially provided by the AEI, MCIN and FEDER funds (CGL2017-85210), Fundacion Loro Parque, Fundación Biodiversidad, and by Agence Erasmus+ France. We would also like to thank the University of Perpignan Via Domitia and CEAB-CSIC to hold MP internship.Peer reviewe

Short communications: Biopsy wound healing in long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas)

Peer Reviewe

Identifying key habitat and seasonal patterns of a critically endangered population of killer whales

Killer whales have been described in the Gulf of Cadiz, southern Spain, in spring and in the Strait of Gibraltar in summer. A total of 11,276 cetaceans sightings coming from different sources (dedicated research surveys, whale watching companies and opportunistic observations) were used to create two presence–‘pseudo-absence’ predictive generalized additive models (GAM), where presence data were defined as sightings of killer whales and ‘pseudo-absence’ data as sightings of other cetacean species. One model was created using spring data when killer whales’ main prey, Atlantic bluefin tuna, enter the Mediterranean Sea, and the other model used summer data when Atlantic bluefin tuna return to the Atlantic Ocean. Both model predictions show that killer whales are highly associated with a probable distribution of bluefin tuna during their migration throughout the study area, constraining their distribution to the Gulf of Cadiz in spring and the Strait of Gibraltar in spring and summer. Knowledge of the distribution of killer whales in the study area is essential to establish conservation measures for this population.Peer reviewe