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The Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) is the only member of the Ziphiidae family with a regular occurrence in the Mediterranean Sea. Much of the knowledge of this species in the Mediterranean has come from stranding data. This note reports the first records of strandings of Cuvier’s beaked whales along the Tunisian coast. The two strandings described are about two specimens, likely adult animals. The first specimens was 530 cm long and beached at El Hicha (Gulf of Gabès, south Tunisia) on March 5th, 2019. The second specimens was 630 cm long and it was reported in Ras Angla (Bizerte, north Tunisia) on June 6th, 2019. Since this species faces multiple threats in the Mediterranean basin, this contribution is intended to extend previous knowledge of this species in the region and to push towards major efforts to be undertaken to fill the knowledge gaps regarding occurrence of Cuvier’s beaked whale along northern Tunisia.

A pioneering boat-based survey was conducted in 2019, to gather baseline information regarding the presence, composition, relative abundance, and spatial distribution of deep-diving and off-shore cetaceans in the northern South China Sea (SCS). A total of 27 sightings comprising at least 8 cetacean species were recorded during the 13-day survey, including 5 deep-diving species (i.e. Risso's dolphin [Grampus griseus], short-finned pilot whale [Globicephala macrorhynchus], sperm whale [Physeter macrocephalus], Cuvier's beaked whale [Ziphius cavirostris], and an unidentified beaked whale [either the ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, Mesoplodon ginkgodens, or Deraniyagala's beaked whale, Mesoplodon hotaula]), as well as 3 off-shore dolphins (i.e. pantropical spotted dolphin [Stenella attenuate], striped dolphin [Stenella coeruleoalba], and Fraser's dolphin [Lagenodelphis hosei]). With the exception of pantropical spotted dolphins, all other species were sighted and recorded at sea in the northern SCS for the first time. The pantropical spotted dolphin was the most frequently sighted species, comprising 30% of the total sightings. Deep-diving cetaceans were mainly sighted in the northern Xisha Archipelago, whereas off-shore dolphins were distributed across the survey area. The pantropical spotted dolphin was observed in aggregations of more than 100 individuals and nearly all encountered species included calves; these findings suggested that the survey area functions as an important feeding and calving ground for various cetacean species. This pioneering survey provides fundamental information regarding cetacean fauna in the northern SCS and highlights the need to strengthen research and conservation efforts concerning these species.

Beaked whales represent around 25% of known extant cetacean species, yet they are the least known of all marine mammals. Identification of many Mesoplodon species has relied on examination of a few stranded individuals. Particularly, the ginkgo-toothed beaked whale (Mesoplodon ginkgodens) and Deraniyagala's beaked whale (Mesoplodon hotaula) are among the least-known of beaked whale species, without confirmed sightings of living individuals to date. We present a sighting of three free-ranging individuals of M. ginkgodens / hotaula whale from a dedicated marine mammal vessel survey carried out in the South China Sea in April and May 2019. Photographic data (301 photographs) from the sighting were compared to photos of fresh stranded ginkgo-toothed beaked whale and Deraniyagala's beaked whale from both historical and unpublished records. We found that free-ranging M. gingkodens and M. hotaula individuals can be easily distinguished from other Mesoplodon species due to differences in melon and gape shapes and coloration patterns. However, accurate at-sea differentiation of M. ginkgodens and M. hotaula may not be possible due to high similarity in both coloration and scarring patterns. In addition to our photo-identification data, we collected what we believe to be the first preliminary descriptions of surfacing behavior and diving patterns of one of these species. Finally, the presence of scars possibly caused by fishing gear or marine litter raises concerns about anthropogenic impacts and conservation of these poorly-known species. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Vicerrectoria de Investigacion y Desarrollo of the Universidad de Concepcion 219.153.026-P

Land cover change is an urgent global issue that needs to be addressed immediately. Its dynamics are of the greatest importance to Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) along the Wallacea Corridor, including Buano Island, whose land and sea are rich in biodiversity. KBA Buano Island is home to endemic and endangered birds, such as Moluccan scrubfowl ( Eulipoa wallacei ) and black-chinned monarch ( Monarcha boanensis ). Black-chinned monarch only lives on the island ( single-site species ). Buano waters have an interestingly diverse life, including dugong ( Dugong dugon ), hawksbill turtle ( Eretmochelys imbricata ), loggerhead turtle ( Caretta caretta ), and many species belonging to the dolphin family (Delphinidae) and beaked whale family (Ziphiidae). This study was designed to analyze and map the spatial-temporal patterns of land cover changes on Buano Island. It employed a multi-temporal analysis on Landsat images from 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, until now, and a t-test to analyze the results further. The t-test analysis produced t-count ≥ t-table at confidence level (α) of 0.05, indicating significant changes in land cover from 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, until 2016. These multitemporal-spatial dynamics were attributable to fluctuation in population growth and open and straightforward access between the island and the capital of the regency. Furthermore, from the aspect of fishery and maritime affairs, Buano Island already had synergistic land area development.

The impact of multibeam echosounder (MBES) operations on marine mammals has been less studied compared to military sonars. To contribute to the growing body of MBES knowledge, echolocation clicks of foraging Cuvier's beaked whales were detected on the Southern California Antisubmarine Warfare Range (SOAR) hydrophones during two MBES surveys and assembled into foraging events called group vocal periods (GVPs). Four GVP characteristics were analyzed Before, During, and After 12 kHz MBES surveys at the SOAR in 2017 and 2019 to assess differences in foraging behavior with respect to the mapping activity. The number of GVP per hour increased During and After MBES surveys compared with Before. There were no other differences between non-MBES and MBES periods for the three other characteristics: the number of clicks per GVP, GVP duration, and click rate. These results indicate that there was not a consistent change in foraging behavior during the MBES surveys that would suggest a clear response. The animals did not leave the range nor stop foraging during MBES activity. These results are in stark contrast to those of analogous studies assessing the effect of Naval mid-frequency active sonar on beaked whale foraging, where beaked whales stopped echolocating and left the area.

Beaked whales (Ziphiidae) are rarely reported in the Arabian Sea. Four new cases (five individuals) were documented in deep waters offshore Pakistan through a pilot programme in 2015-2018 where trained fishers video-recorded net entanglements in the pelagic tuna drift gillnet fishery. Videos were analysed frame-by-frame. The large body size (est. 5-6m) of one specimen, its moderately bulbous melon, long tubular rostrum and a large falcate dolphin-like dorsal fin, indicated Longman’s beaked whale Indopacetus pacificus. It represents the first record for Pakistan (EEZ), and with a stranding at Gujarat, India, a second for the northern Arabian Sea. The other 4 ziphiids were significantly smaller (est. 3– 4.5m), with a decidedly non-bulbous melon, variable short to moderately short rostra, falcate to subtriangular dorsal fin and a nondescript greyish colouration, identified as Mesoplodon spp. Video quality was poor but none of the specimens showed tusks, arched mandible lines or noticeable linear tooth rakes, practically excluding adult males. The successful release of all net-entangled beaked whales is unprecedented. The simultaneous bycatch of two mesoplodonts in the same net set is equally exceptional. This citizen science strategy adds to our understanding of the distribution of I. pacificus and mesoplodonts, which may be more common in the Arabian Sea than the scarce literature suggests. If significant bycatch of beaked whales is confirmed, the massive tuna gillnet fishing effort in the Arabian Sea could have negative implications for their conservation status.

Photo-identification methods depend on markings that are stable over time. Using a large dataset of photographs taken over a 31-year period, we evaluate the reliability, rate of change and demographic trends in different mark types on northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus) in the Endangered Scotian Shelf population, and assess the prevalence and severity of anthropogenically caused markings. Only fin notches and back indentations were stable over long timescales, leading to 48% of the overall population being assessed as reliably marked. Males and mature males were found to have higher incidence of most mark types compared to females and juveniles. The proportion of reliably marked individuals increased over time, a trend that should be accounted for in any temporal analysis of population size using mark-recapture methods. An overall increase in marked individuals may reflect the accumulation of scars on an aging population post whaling. Anthropogenic markings, including probable entanglement and propeller-vessel strike scars, occurred at a steady rate over the study period and were observed on 6.6% of the population. The annual gain rate for all injuries associated with anthropogenic interactions was over 5 times the annual potential biological removal (PBR) calculated for the endangered population. As entanglement incidents and propeller-vessel strike injuries are typically undetected in offshore areas, we provide the first minimum estimate of harmful human interactions for northern bottlenose whales. With low observer effort for fisheries across the Canadian Atlantic, photo-identification offers an important line of evidence of the risks faced by this Endangered whale population.

Herein, the biometrics, body condition, and veterinary findings from the first stranding of a Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris; Cuvier, 1823) in Denmark are described. It was an adult male with a single tooth (the right was missing). The animal appeared to be well fed and had a body length of 581 cm and a total weight of approximately 2,500 kg. During dissection, we recorded the mass of the bones, blubber, muscle, and organs, which to our knowledge are the first to be published for this species. The back was covered with linear, parallel seaming likely caused by male male competition. In addition, scattered scars were found in the skin derived from cookiecutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis) bites. Multiple small abscesses were found in the blubber, probably due to parasites. Histopathologically, the lungs were characterized by mild purulent pneumonia, and the liver revealed hepatic steatosis. Clostridium sardiniensis and Paeniclostridium sordellii were observed in the lungs and liver. The gastrointestinal tract contained only traces of food and two smaller pieces of plastic in the first stomach chamber. Nematode parasites were found in the intestines. Sexual organs indicated full maturity. Both kidneys showed moderate infestation, with the nematode Crassicauda crassicauda forming calcified granulomas. The exact cause of death was unknown, but the whale was ill with purulent pneumonia and an agonal septicemia. We did not find any evidence of gas or fat emboli. Furthermore, it can be speculated that storms or noise exposure may have led the whale astray, eventually causing its stranding within the so-called "North Sea Trap." The stranding reported contributed to a pattern of increased Cuvier's beaked whale strandings in the North Sea area, suggesting a recent northerly shift of its range, perhaps due to the climate-induced range shift of its squid prey.

16 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables.-- This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), Data on species occurrence at the scale of their distributional range and the determination of their habitat use requirements are essential to support conservation and define management plans that account for their habitat requirements. For wide-ranging species, such as cetaceans, especially considering that their marine habitats include offshore areas, collection of such data is challenging. In the absence of dedicated surveys, alternative methodologies are needed, such as the use of data collected from platforms of opportunity and modelling techniques to predict distribution in unsurveyed areas. Using 6 years of cetacean occurrence data collected along cargo ship routes between the Iberian Peninsula, northwestern African coasts and the Macaronesian islands, we developed ecological niche models to assess habitat preferences and predict suitable habitats of the eight most frequently sighted cetacean taxa in the area. Explanatory variables used for model fitting included topographic, oceanographic, detectability, geographic and seasonal features. To provide a robust habitat characterisation, along with predictions of habitat suitability, making best use of occurrence datasets, we applied two modelling techniques, GAM and Maxent, which offer complementary strengths. Coastal areas provide important habitats for common and bottlenose dophins, while other dolphin species (spotted and striped dolphins) have a more oceanic distribution. The predicted niches of Cuvier’s beaked whale and minke whales are mainly in the high seas at northern latitudes. Suitable habitats for sperm whales and pilot whales are mostly in southern areas in continental slope regions. For all the species, models indicated that areas around seamount features offer suitable habitats, likely of high relevance in oligotrophic offshore waters. As such, dedicated survey effort in such areas would facilitate development and implementation of appropriate management plans, which are currently lacking. Our models offer an important contribution to baseline knowledge of cetacean distribution at basin-scale in the region and could support the definition of priority areas, monitoring plans, and conservation measures, essential to comply with the requirements of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive, This study was conducted within the Ph.D. program of AC, from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Portugal, hosted by the Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR—Porto, Portugal) and funded by the Portuguese national funding agency for science, research and technology (FCT) under the grant SFRH/BD/100606/2014. Two Ph.D. fellowships for authors AG (PD/BD/150603/2020) and RV (SFRH/BD/144786/2019) were granted by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) under the auspices of Programa Operacional Regional Norte (PORN), supported by the European Social Fund (ESF) and Portuguese funds (MECTES). NS was supported by a CEEC2017 contract (CEECIND/02213/2017)

True’s beaked whales have a uniquely fragmented distribution of sightings recorded, mostly from stranding reports. The species is assumed to be associated with deep oceanic waters, occurring in both the northern and southern hemispheres. A hotspot for strandings in the southern hemisphere is South Africa. The third and fourth reported stranding of True’s beaked whales for Mozambique is presented, and the first for Tofo Beach, Inhambane Province. This stranding event resulted in the carcasses being butchered and the bushmeat taken for human consumption. This report develops and discusses strategies for mitigation of future risk to public health from aquatic bushmeat consumption in Mozambique.

Cetacean stranding events are an important source of information and biological samples, providing data on species occurrence, distribution and population dynamics as well as on mortality rate induced by human activities or natural causes. This is even truer for species such as Z. cavirostris, whose elusive behavior has made its field observation difficult in many Mediterranean areas. Although the occurrence of single or serial strandings of this species and the rise in survey effort have increased the knowledge on its presence, there are still gaps in some Mediterranean areas, especially in the Gulf of Taranto (North-western Ionian Sea, Italy), where a critical habitat suitable for different cetacean species has been identified. Despite no sightings of Z. cavirostris having been recorded so far, ACCOBAMS designates the Gulf of Taranto as an Area of Special Concern for Beaked Whales (ASC-BW) on the basis of atypical mass strandings of 12 individuals which occurred in the Ionian Sea in 2011. Moreover, the conservation status of the Z. cavirostris has recently passed from Data Deficient to Vulnerable, according the IUCN criteria adopted for the Mediterranean Sea, thus showing the urgent need for basic information on its bio-ecological features, suitable habitat and threats at local or wider scale. This study is the first attempt at application in the Mediterranean Sea of a Lagrangian prediction model simulating the carcass drift trajectories to investigate the at-site sea origin of an individual of Z. cavirostris stranded in the Gulf of Taranto. Moreover, a necropsy was carried out to detect the possible cause of death and the results of bacteriological, biomolecular and toxicological analysis are provided. Finally, a collection of osteological data as well as the process of turning and displaying the skeleton in a museum are detailed, highlighting the importance of these exhibits from a scientific and educational point of view.

We are grateful to the ACCOBAMS Secretariat for their support in this work, including a small grant for the analysis. The Mediterranean population of Cuvieŕs beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), a deep-diving cetacean, is genetically distinct from the Atlantic, and subject to a number of conservation threats, in particular underwater noise. It is also cryptic at the surface and relatively rare, so obtain robust knowledge on distribution and abundance presents unique challenges. Here we use multiplatform and multiyear survey data to analyse the distribution and abundance of this species across the Mediterranean Sea. We use a novel approach combining heterogeneous data gathered with different methods to obtain a single density index for the region. A total of 594,996 km of survey effort and 507 sightings of Cuvier’s beaked whales, from 1990 to 2016, were pooled together from 24 different sources. Data were divided into twelve major groups according to platform height, speed and sea state. Both availability bias and effective strip width were calculated from the sightings with available perpendicular distance data. This was extrapolated to the rest of the sightings for each of the twelve groups. Habitat preference models were fitted into a GAM framework using counts of groups as a response variable with the effective searched area as an offset. Depth, coefficient of variation of depth, longitude and marine regions (as defined by the International Hydrographic Organization) were identified as important predictors. Predicted abundance of groups per grid cell were multiplied by mean group size to obtain a prediction of the abundance of animals. A total abundance of 5799 (CV = 24.0%) animals was estimated for the whole Mediterranean basin. The Alborán Sea, Ligurian Sea, Hellenic Trench, southern Adriatic Sea and eastern Ionian Sea were identified as being the main hot spots in the region. It is important to urge that the relevant stakeholders incorporate this information in the planning and execution of high risk activities in these high-risk areas. Postprint

Cuvier's beaked whale is the most cosmopolitan of the beaked whales and is found in all oceans except in the high polar waters. This species is known from over 1800 strandings. In the Caribbean strandings are rare, and we present a first record from Antigua and Barbuda.

Cetacean strandings constitute one of the most important sources of information for studying cetacean diversity and obtaining basic biological data. The Guatemalan Pacific Ocean supports a high diversity of cetaceans, with at least 19 confirmed species records. However, little is known about cetacean strandings in Guatemala and their association with anthropogenic activities. We reviewed the occurrence of cetacean strandings on the Pacific coastline of Guatemala between 2007 and 2021. Stranding records were obtained from publications and citizen science such as sporadic reports from third parties, local and social media. In total, 39 stranding events from 12 species were recorded over the 15-year period examined. Stranded species belong to five families: Delphinidae, Kogiidae, Ziphiidae, Balaenopteridae and Eschrichtiidae. The striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba, n = 6), bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus, n = 6), spinner dolphin (S. longirostris, n = 5), spotted dolphin (S. attenuata, n = 4), and humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae, n = 4) were the most frequently stranded species. For three of the stranded species, the melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra), Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris), and gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), these stranding records represent the first confirmed report of the species in Guatemalan waters. Although we could not determine the cause of stranding in most cases, at least 15% of stranded individuals presented marks or injuries that could be associated with anthropogenic activities, such as fisheries or vessel strikes. This study highlights the importance of stranding data and the need to create a national network to allow timely response to stranding events and to enable improved data collection protocols. A well-curated cetacean stranding database is crucial for scientific research as well as to implement management and conservation measures to protect these species in the region.

Little is known about the ecology of many beaked whale species, despite concerns raised by mass strandings linked to certain sources of anthropogenic noise. Here, we used passive acoustic monitoring to examine spatial and temporal patterns in beaked whale occurrence at six locations along the continental slope in the western North Atlantic Ocean. We analyzed 2642 days of recordings collected between 2011 and 2015, and identified echolocation signals from northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus), Cuvier’s (Ziphius cavirostris), Sowerby’s (Mesoplodon bidens), Gervais’, (Mesoplodon europaeus), and Blainville’s (Mesoplodon densirostris) beaked whales, and one signal type of unknown origin. We recorded multiple species at each site, with detections generally occurring year-round, and observed latitudinal gradients and site-specific variation in relative species occurrence. Notably, we regularly detected Cuvier’s beaked whales in a region where they have not been commonly observed, and discovered potential habitat partitioning among Cuvier’s and Gervais’ beaked whales within their overlapping ranges. This information on the distribution and seasonal occurrence of North Atlantic beaked whale species offers new insight into patterns of habitat use, and provides a year-round baseline from which to assess potential anthropogenic impacts.

Specimens of cyamids were collected from fresh cetacean carcasses from Brazil, Iceland and New Caledonia. Identifications were based on literature and comparative material. Redescriptions based on the type series of Cyamus monodontis and Cyamus nodosus collected from narwhal Monodon monoceros are proposed, and lectotypes and paralectotypes are designated. A new species of Isocyamus was described herein, Isocyamus indopacetus sp. nov., which is characterised by the maxilliped with outer plate and two spine-like processes on the bases of gills. This is the first record of a cyamid parasitising the Longman’s beaked whale (Indopacetus pacificus) from New Caledonia. An updated key to Isocyamus is presented herein. Syncyamus ilheusensis is registered for the first time for the melon-headed whale Peponocephala electra and from the Clymene’s dolphin Stenella clymene from Ceara, Brazil.www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:451A4857-9CFC-4C81-AF70-8DFD0D7CEB16

The biology of the Cuvier’s beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris Cuvier, 1823, in Russian waters remains almost unstudied. The species is encountered rarely elsewhere in the seas of Russia, except for the waters off the Commander Islands. Currently, some researchers express doubt about the accuracy of the known Cuvier’s beaked whale records in the region. This report provides information on the confirmed encounters with Cuvier’s beaked whale off the Commander Islands and eastern Kamchatka.

Cetacean communities face significant threats from adverse interactions with human activities such as bycatch, vessel collision, and environmental pollution. Monitoring of marine mammal populations can help to assess and safeguard marine biodiversity for future generations. Traditional surveys can be costly and time-consuming to undertake, but we explore the ability of citizen science to inform environmental assessments and subsequent conservation management. We use data collected from platforms of opportunity within the Bay of Biscay to investigate spatial changes in cetacean diversity, with the aim of identifying hotspots which may be suitable for further investigation and conservation. Seventeen species of cetaceans were recorded over a ten year period, many of which are data deficient in European waters (e.g. Bottlenose dolphin, Short-beaked common dolphin, Striped dolphin, Risso's dolphin, Long-finned pilot whale, Killer whale, Northern bottlenose whale, Cuvier's beaked whale, Sowerby's beaked whale and True's beaked whale). Biodiversity (determined by Simpson's Diversity index) ranged from 0.19 to 0.77. The central and southern areas of the survey area indicated the highest biodiversity (0.65–0.77), and these locations may benefit most from protection as Important Marine Mammal Areas. We present a case for this designation, and discuss the benefits and limitations of citizen science for informing conservation action.

Here we describe the first underwater sighting of Shepherd’s beaked whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi). Two individuals were observed together on video footage obtained via mid-water stereo-Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems (BRUVS) deployed off the coast of Inaccessible Island, Tristan da Cunha, in the South Atlantic. This observation constitutes the first recorded live sighting of this species in the waters of Tristan da Cunha since 2002 and provides further evidence for the persistence of a population of this species in the region. The observed individuals lacked the dark flipper stripe observed in previous descriptions, indicating that the species may exhibit greater variation in pigmentation than previous records indicate. The planned implementation of a marine reserve in the region along with the current low level of fishing pressure and remote location of this archipelago provide a good context to ensure the appropriate management and protection of this rare species. The recent establishment of an ongoing mid-water stereo-BRUVS monitoring programme, in concert with other methods targeted at marine mammals, may yield further information about this little known species and aid in informing management decisions in the future. Publisher PDF

Until the 1990s, beaked whales were one of the least understood groups of large mammals. Information on northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus) and Baird’s beaked whales (Berardius bairdii) was available from data collected during whaling, however, little information existed on the smaller species other than occasional data gleaned from beach-cast animals. Recent research advances have been plentiful. Increasing global survey effort, together with morphometric and genetic analyses have shown at least 22 species in this group. Longitudinal field studies of at least four species (H. ampullatus, B. bairdii, Ziphius cavirostris, Mesoplodon densirostris) have become established over the last three decades. Several long-term studies support photo-identification catalogs providing insights into life history, social structure and population size. Tag-based efforts looking at diving, movements and acoustics have provided detail on individual behavior as well as population structure and ranges. Passive acoustic monitoring has allowed long-term and seasonal monitoring of populations. Genetic studies have uncovered cryptic species and revealed contrasting patterns of genetic diversity and connectivity amongst the few species examined. Conservation concern for these species was sparked by mass strandings coincident with military mid-frequency sonar use. Fat and gas emboli have been symptomatic indicators of mortalities related to sonar exposure, suggesting that their vulnerability stems from the physiological exertion of extreme diving for medium-sized whales. Behavioral response experiments have now shown that beaked whales appear to cease foraging and delay their return to foraging and/or leave the area in association with exposure to mid-frequency signals at low acoustic levels. Future priorities for these species will be to (1) continue field-studies to better understand smaller-scale habitat use, vital rates and social structure; (2) develop better detection methods for larger-scale survey work; (3) improve methodology for monitoring energetics, individual body condition and health; (4) develop tools to better understand physiology; (5) use recent genetic advances with improved sample databanks to re-examine global and local beaked whale relationships; (6) further quantify anthropogenic impacts (both sonar and other noise) and their population consequences (7) apply acquired data for realistic mitigation of sonar and other anthropogenic impacts for beaked whale conservation. Publisher PDF

Understanding the distribution of animals is of paramount importance for management and conservation, especially for species that are impacted by anthropogenic threats. In the case of marine mammals there has been a growing concern about the impact of human-made noise, in particular for beaked whales and other deep diving odontocetes. Foraging (measured via echolocation clicks at depth) was studied for Cuvier’s beaked whale ( Ziphius cavirostris ), sperm whale ( Physeter macrocephalus ), long-finned pilot whales ( Globicephala melas ) and Risso’s dolphin ( Grampus griseus ) using three passive acoustics recorders moored to the bottom of the ocean in a canyon area in the Ligurian Sea between July and December 2011. A Generalized Linear Model was used to test whether foraging was influenced by location and day of the year, including the possibility of interactions between predictors. Contrary to previous studies conducted by visual surveys in this area, all species were detected at all locations, suggesting habitat overlapping. However, significant differences were found in the occurrence of each species at different locations. Beaked and sperm whales foraged significantly more in the northern and western locations, while long-finned pilot whales and Risso’s dolphins hunted more in the northern and eastern location.

The data we report were collected during two studies, “Behavioral Response Study-2008” and “Using Satellite Telemetry to Monitor Beaked whale Movements on a Navy Range,” both funded by the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR). CD received funds for analysis from ONR as part of the “Population Consequences of Acoustic Disturbance” project. LR and PT were supported by the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS) pooling initiative and their support is gratefully acknowledged. MASTS is funded by the Scottish Funding Council (grant reference HR09011) and contributing institutions. Postprint

Cuvier's beaked whales were sighted once on each of three different surveys over Antalya Canyon, in June and September 2015. Sightings took place in waters between 600 and 1000 m in depth and at 8 km from the closest shore. While the first sighting was positively identified as Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris (G. Cuvier, 1823)), latter sightings could not be identified to the species level. Nevertheless, noting that latter sightings had a similar spatial and temporal distribution to the first one and that there is an overwhelming difference between the probabilities of sighting Cuvier's beaked whales versus Mesoplodon sp. In the Mediterranean Sea, all three sightings were assumed to be Cuvier's beaked whales. Group size was recorded as two for the first two sightings and one for the last sighting. We hereby report the most recent Cuvier's beaked whale sightings from the Levantine Basin and the first ones from Antalya Bay, as well as compile the previous sighting and stranding information on beaked whales in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The current study supports previous modeling results showing the northern region of the Levantine Sea to be of importance to the species distribution in the Mediterranean Sea and we propose that the species is indeed regularly present in the area. However, consistent regional surveys are needed in order to validate these conclusions.

The spatial and temporal distribution pattern of stranded cetaceans in Korean waters was investigated for the conservation and management of cetaceans in this area. A total of 154 cetacean stranding events consisting of 12 species were recorded in Korean waters from 1997 to 2004 by the Korea Coast Guard. A total of 4 species, the minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) (n = 43), Unless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) (n = 43), Stejneger's beaked whale (Mesoplodon stejnegeri) (n= 15), and common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) (n= 11), accounted for 73% of the stranded cetaceans. The majority of stranding events took place in the East Sea (n = 99; 64%) followed by the Korea Strait (n = 48; 31%) and the Yellow Sea (n = 7; 5%). The hot spots of stranding events in Korean waters were Pohang (18%), Busan (9%), and Goseong (8%). The number of stranding events increased following the establishment of the bycatch/stranding reporting system in 1997, with a steep increase in the number of stranding ev...

Several species of deep-diving odontocetes, including beaked whales, sperm whales and pilot whales, are associated with steep continental slope habitat in the northeast Atlantic, where they feed on cephalopods and meso-bathypelagic fish. Some species such as sperm whales are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN red list, whilst many beaked whale species are listed as data deficient, therefore, understanding their habitat is key for their successful conservation. A six-day survey was carried out in November 2017 to characterise the habitat of deep-diving odontocete species in this region by sampling multiple aspects of the ecosystem, from oceanographic features through to prey and predator distributions. Sampling of odontocete occurrence was carried out using both visual and acoustic surveys, supported by ten stations that sampled conductivity, temperature, fluorescence and zooplankton; at five of these stations, fish and cephalopod communities were also sampled during dusk and dawn to a maximum depth of 356 m. Results showed that temperature, salinity, and fluorescence were stable throughout the study area. Zooplankton were dominated by copepods, fish were dominated by myctophids, whilst cephalopods were dominated by Todarodes sagittatus and two Histioteuthis spp. Pilot whales, sperm whales and Sowerby's beaked whales were detected both acoustically and visually, along with other delphinids in large numbers, providing evidence that the study covered rich foraging habitat for these species, especially along the 1000 m–2000 m deep continental slope.

While cetacean distribution and habitat is well investigated in some areas in the Mediterranean, only a few studies have been conducted so far in the central part of the Mediterranean basin. In order to fill this gap, a dedicated research program has been developed using ferries operating between Tunis and Genoa as platforms of opportunity to collect data on cetacean presence and distribution. The area was subdivided in three sub-regions: the Sardo-Tunisian channel, the eastern Sardinian margin and the international sanctuary for marine mammals Pelagos. During fall 2013, marine mammal observers surveyed 1900 nautical miles and recorded 39 encounters of 5 identified species including balaenopteridae, delphinidae, ziphiidae and physeteridae families. Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) were the most common species followed in decreasing occurrence by fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) and sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). The distribution of bottlenose dolphin was restricted to the shallow waters of the Tunisian plateau over the continental shelf. Striped dolphins were sighted in the open sea waters and the eastern Sardinia margin. Large cetaceans as sperm whale and fin whale were mainly recorded over the canyon of Bizerte in the Sardo-Tunisian channel. Highest diversity index was reported in the Pelagos sanctuary even during autumn, confirming the area as a preferred habitat for several cetacean species. Our results also highlight the importance of the Sardo-Tunisian channel, where a relatively important diversity index has been computed, especially over the canyon of Bizerte. This study is the first to investigate cetacean diversity in pelagic central Mediterranean waters and highlights the insistent need to develop regular monitoring in this area.

Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) is the most widely distributed species of beaked whale, with a cosmopolitan distribution throughout almost all temperate, subtropical and tropical waters of the world as well as subpolar and even polar waters in some areas. Globally, it may also be the most abundant species of beaked whale within the family Ziphiidae. However, there is little information on local distribution in many areas around the world. Before 2009, no dedicated research on beaked whales occurred in Guadalupe Island. In this note, we report opportunistic sightings of Cuvier’s beaked whales recorded during a white shark research project from 2006 through 2008, and the results obtained in 2009 during a pilot study focused on the beaked whales of Guadalupe Island.

Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris, G. Cuvier 1823) is a poorly known species and many international agreements have asked for a better understanding of its biology for conservation purposes. In the present study, systematic cetacean surveys were carried out from ferries along a trans-regional fixed transect in the Central Tyrrhenian Sea (Civitavecchia, Latium – Golfo Aranci, Sardinia), just outside the southeastern border of the Pelagos Sanctuary. This research provided long-term, consistent data on Cuvier’s beaked whale during two research periods (1990–1992 and 2007–2011). The objective of the research was to compare the presence, distribution and habitat use of Cuvier’s beaked whale between the two investigated periods. Summer data (June–September) from the two periods were compared in terms of frequency of sightings, group size and spatial distribution related to the main ecogeographical features. A presence-absence model (generalized additive modelling) was performed to predict habitat suitability in the two study periods. The results highlight longterm site fidelity of Cuvier’s beaked whale in the Central Tyrrhenian Sea with encounter rates comparable to the ones reported for other key areas. Separate suitability models based on 1990s and 2000s data appeared to work for each individual time period but differences were evident between the two periods, indicating changes in habitat selection over time. Our findings of the study appear to expand the definition of suitable beaked whale habitat and underline how the temporal scale of the analysis can affect the results in habitat studies. Moreover, this research highlights the importance of the Central Tyrrhenian Sea marine region for Cuvier’s beaked whale and the ability of continuous monitoring to identify changes in cetacean frequency and distribution, necessary for adaptive conservation management approaches.

In the coast of Galicia an average of 200 stranded cetaceans are reported annually. From 1990 to 2013, 21 individuals of four species of the family Ziphiidae were found: 15 Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris), two Sowerby's beaked whales (Mesoplodon bidens), one True's beaked whale (Mesoplodon mirus) and one Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris), as well as two unidentified ones. These were the first records in Galicia for True's beaked whale and Blainville's beaked whale. The study of the distribution of oceanic species considering only stranded animals has limitations, but is a good approach to this not well-known cetacean family. Due to the small number of individuals of the different species, statistical analyses for geographic or seasonal patterns were only carried out for the Cuvier's beaked whales. Between the periods of 1990–2002 and 2003–2013 significant differences were found for geographic and seasonal occurrence patterns. Over the last decade strandings were located only in the north area of the region, mainly during the spring season, while in the previous decade they were located along the three considered areas and only in autumn and winter.

When mammals strand, they present a unique opportunity to obtain insights into their ecology. In May 2013, three True's beaked whales (two adult females and a female calf) stranded on the north and west coasts of Ireland and the contents of their stomachs and intestines were analysed for anthropogenic debris. A method for identifying microplastics ingested by larger marine organisms was developed. Microplastics were identified throughout the digestive tract of the single whale that was examined for the presence of microplastics. The two adult females had macroplastic items in their stomachs. Food remains recovered from the adult whales consisted of mesopelagic fish (Benthosema glaciale, Nansenia spp., Chauliodius sloani) and cephalopods, although trophic transfer has been discussed, it was not possible to ascertain whether prey were the source of microplastics. This is the first study to directly identify microplastics

The risks military sonar poses to cetaceans received international attention with a highly-publicized mass stranding of Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris), Blainville's beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris), and northern minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in the Bahamas in 2000. This was the first time that the US Government determined a stranding to be the result of mid-frequency active sonar use. Subsequently attention has been drawn to other mass strandings coincident with naval exercises, including events preceding the 2000 mass stranding. The list of species for which mass strandings have been linked to naval exercises has also increased to include other beaked whales, dwarf and pygmy sperm whales (Kogia spp.), pilot whales (Globicephala spp.), several dolphin species (Stenella sp. and Delphinus delphis), and harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). In particular, there have been several mass strandings in the northern Indian Ocean coincident with naval exercises—including one of the largest (200–250 dolphins)—which have received little attention. Changes in beaked whale behavior, including evasive maneuvering, have been recorded at received levels below

International audience

CODA was funded with contributions from UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; UK Department for Trade & Industry; Irish Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government; Irish Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the Spanish Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs via the Spanish Cetacean Society. SCANS-II was funded by the EU LIFE Nature programme under Project LIFE04NAT/GB/000245 and by the governments of all range states: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and UK. The survey in the Faroese block of T-NASS was funded by the Faroese government. In spite of their oceanic habitat, deep diving cetacean species have been found to be affected by anthropogenic activities, with potential population impacts of high intensity sounds generated by naval research and oil prospecting receiving the most attention. Improving the knowledge of the distribution and abundance of this poorly known group is an essential prerequisite to inform mitigation strategies seeking to minimize their spatial and temporal overlap with human activities. We provide for the first time abundance estimates for five deep diving cetacean species (sperm whale, long-finned pilot whale, northern bottlenose whale, Cuvier's beaked whale and Sowerby's beaked whale) using data from three dedicated cetacean sighting surveys that covered the oceanic and shelf waters of the North-East Atlantic. Density surface modelling was used to obtain model-based estimates of abundance and to explore the physical and biological characteristics of the habitat used by these species. Distribution of all species was found to be significantly related to depth, distance from the 2000m depth contour, the contour index (a measure of variability in the seabed) and sea surface temperature. Predicted distribution maps also suggest that there is little spatial overlap between these species. Our results represent the best abundance estimates for deep-diving whales in the North-East Atlantic, predict areas of high density during summer and constitute important baseline information to guide future risk assessments of human activities on these species, evaluate potential spatial and temporal trends and inform EU Directives and future conservation efforts. Postprint

The greatest threat to cetaceans in Sri Lankan waters was considered to be the direct take of small- and medium-sized cetaceans using harpoons and/or as bycatch until recently. However, ship strikes have probably been occurring for years but have not been recognized for what they were. For the current study, only animals with visible and prominent injuries related to collisions were evaluated. Data gathered between 2010 and 2014 included the species, morphometry, location, and date; tissue samples were collected for genetic analysis. When possible, a complete necropsy was conducted; otherwise, partial necropsies were conducted. The study confirmed 14 reports of ship strikes between whales and vessels out of all the strandings reported from 2010 to 2014. Most strikes (n=09, 64%) involved blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus), although three other species were also documented, one Cuvier’s beaked whale, two great sperm whales, and one Bryde’s whale, as well as one unidentified baleen whale. Collision hotspots such as the southern waters of Sri Lanka are areas that warrant special attention in the form of vessel routing measures or speed limits, research on cetacean ecology, distribution, daily and seasonal movements, public service announcements, increased law enforcement presence, and other measures.

Dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) has caused several mortality events in Mediterranean striped (Stenella coeruleoalba) and bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) dolphins populations since nineties; in the last 5 years, the virus was reported to infect new hosts in this basin, such as fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) and even a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina). Very recently, a calf Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) calf stranded on the Southern Italian coastline with mild pathological findings suggestive of morbilliviral infection, received the first confirmation of DMV infection in this species by biomolecular evidences on lung tissue. This new cross species infection report, along with 19% of the cetaceans specimens examined by the Italian Stranding Network being found positive to DMV, support the hypothesis of an endemic circulation of this virus among Mediterranean cetaceans.

In this paper we present the concentrations of Hg, Cd, Se, Pb, Cu, Mn, Zn and Fe in organs of 6 non-common specimens of cetaceans that were stranded along the Israeli Mediterranean coast (IMC), during 2002–2010: two fin whales, one minke whale, one Cuvier’s beaked whale, one rough-toothed dolphin, and one Risso’s dolphin. Most of the specimens were calves stranded by accident. Concentrations of Hg and Cd were low in tissues of the baleen whales and higher in the toothed whales, with maximum concentrations of 1067 mg kg−1 Hg in the liver of the Risso’s dolphin and 29 mg kg−1 Cd in the kidney of the Cuvier’s beaked whale. As far as we are aware, this is the first report of trace elements in baleen whales in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the first report of trace elements in minke whale and rough-toothed dolphin in the Mediterranean.

The only published record of any beaked whale in Albanian waters is of a Cuvier’s beaked whale stranded dead in October 1975. Sightings in neighbouring Greek waters are concentrated in the Hellenic Trench in the central Ionian Sea. In this article we report sightings of five groups of Cuvier’s beaked whales in Albanian waters north of the island of Corfu on 29 July and on 02 August 2013. Four groups were encountered on 29 July in waters 859–975 m deep whereas a fifth group was sighted in Greek waters on 02 August at a depth of almost 1,200 m. All groups consisted of two or three individuals but the close sighting of two mother/calf pairs is exceptional in the Mediterranean Sea and confirms calving in or near Albanian waters. Finally, we discuss the northward extension of the known beaked whale ‘hotspot‘ in the central Ionian Sea and its importance for the species‘ conservation in the Mediterranean Sea.

The relative occurrence of the 16 most common cetacean species in the Southern California Bight (SCB) was compared from the 1950s through 2012 by examining at-sea sighting and stranding data. While systematic survey and population abundance/density data have been available since the 1970s, prior data were collected opportunistically. Comparisons were made through a literature review and using recent results from 15 aerial surveys conducted in the SCB from 2008 through 2012. We attempted to address inconsistency in type of effort across studies by ranking the relative sighting frequency of the most common species based on the most representative study for each period. This comparison revealed changes in the relative occurrence of some species across the approximately 60-y reviewed period. Since the 1950s, common dolphins have remained the most common “species” of cetacean in the SCB. Risso’s dolphin and fin, blue, humpback, and Bryde’s whales appear to have increased in relative occurrence. The relative occurrence of the common bottlenose and northern right whale dolphins; Dall’s porpoise; and gray, killer, minke, Cuvier’s beaked, and sperm whales do not appear to have changed notably since the 1950s. There is possible indication of recent decreased relative occurrence of the Pacific white-sided dolphin. The short-finned pilot whale has decreased since the 1950s and has not been recorded in the SCB since the 1990s, concurrent with the observed relative increase in Risso’s dolphins. Overall, recent aerial surveys indicate that the 16 most commonly seen species in the SCB, in descending order of frequency, were common dolphins (two species), Risso’s dolphin, fin whale, common bottlenose dolphin, gray whale, blue whale, Pacific white-sided dolphin, humpback whale, northern right whale dolphin, common minke whale, Dall’s porpoise, killer whale, Bryde’s whale, Cuvier’s beaked whale (the latter three tied in ranking), and sperm whale. Given that the reviewed historical data from the 1950s and 1960s are virtually the only sources of information available to examine trends over the last 50 to 60 y in this area, we believe this comparative ranking approach provides useful information not available from other sources.

This work documents strandings and sightings of vulnerable marine mammals on the Egyptian Coast of the Mediterranean Sea, with an emphasis on 2013 to 2018 as well as previous non documented strandings observed by other persons. Marine mammal cases were described and identified to six species: the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus Linnaeus, 1758), the sperm whale (Physeter microcephalus), Gervais’ beaked whale Mesoplodon europaeus (Gervais, 1855), the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncates), the rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis) that which was stranded on the Gamasa coast and was not completely confirmed. The sixth species was California sea lion (Zalophus californianus Lesson, 1828) which was reported for the first time. Moreover, the monk seal (Monachus monachus) was also reported here but has not been observed by the authors; this observation increases the reported species on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt into seven species. The first five species are cetaceans including a baleen whale (Mysticeti) for first whale and toothed species (Odontoceti) for the remaining four species, while the last two ones belong to Pinnipeds (sea lion and monk seal). Most of the observed cases were strandings, while the sea lion was sighted alive. The sea lion is not endemic for Mediterranean sea and its presence may be an accidental or may escape from aquarium. There were also few other records of dead delphinid carcasses that were in a highly decomposed state and could not be identified. In conclusion, this work is important issue in term of documenting marine mammals in the Egyptian Mediterranean water and indicates that the coast has increasingly become a visiting area for many marine mammals, with a concomitant increase in stranding's. These observations reflect their vulnerability due to anthropogenic activities such as fishing operations, shipping, and seismic activities. Moreover, the Egyptian coast has shallower and wider continental shelf in the Nile Delta region which may increase the probability of marine mammals' visitors stranding's, particularly a mong species that inhabit deep water. The repeated sightings of these species may be due to climatic changes that affect their migration and mobility from one place to another. Stakeholders should pay more attention to marine mammals in Egypt through increased awareness and the continuous monitoring, documentation and mapping of recorded strandings to further suggest measures on how to protect these important and vulnerable species.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are being established worldwide to protect vulnera- ble marine species and habitats, in the face of accelerating rates of species extinctions. Biophysical indicators such as focal species abundance are often employed to assess the effectiveness of MPAs at meeting conservation objectives. We examined the dynamics of an Endangered beaked whale population 7 yr after the Gully MPA was established in 2004 off Nova Scotia, Canada. Northern bottlenose whales forage in deep water such as the Gully submarine canyon. Several MPA restric- tions were implemented on the Gully ecosystem beginning in 2004 to reduce anthropogenic impacts including ship traffic, underwater noise and entanglements. This study represents the first intensive northern bottlenose whale population assessment since the Gully became a MPA. Using photo-identification data collected in 2010 and 2011, we applied mark-recapture tech- niques to estimate the current population size of northern bottlenose whales on the Scotian Shelf as 143 animals (95% CI: 129 to 156 animals). We also used open population models to examine population trends, and investigated changes in the sex ratio since 1988. Our results suggest the population size and sex ratio have been stable since before MPA legislation was implemented, illustrating the resilience of this population and suggesting that the MPA objective of preventing population decline is being met. Continued monitoring of MPA efficacy is necessary; there is still the potential for future events, whether stochastic or related to climate change, to affect small pop- ulations such as the Gully northern bottlenose whales and put the success of MPAs to further test.

Increasing evidence links exposure to Navy sonar with certain mass stranding events of deep diving beaked whales. Although the cause of these strandings is unknown, one theory suggests that the animals confuse the sonar signals with vocalizations of killer whales, a known predator. Here we analyze the movement patterns of a tagged female Blainville's beaked whale in reaction to playback of killer whale predation calls. During a deep foraging dive, the whale was exposed to a playback of killer whale vocalizations with the source level slowly increased until the whale prematurely ceased foraging. The heading data from the tag were analyzed using a rotation test with a likelihood ratio calculated for a nonparametric kernel density estimate. We found a significant difference (P

Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) is a causative factor in epizootics that have resulted in thousands of deaths throughout the Atlantic and Mediterranean since 1987, but less is known of its presence and significance in the Pacific. The first case of CeMV reported in Hawai'i was in a Longman's beaked whale that stranded in 2010. The initial CeMV sequence from this individual indicated the possibility of a novel strain. To address this, archived samples from cetaceans that stranded in Hawai'i between 1997 and 2014 were screened for CeMV. The beaked whale morbillivirus (BWMV) was detected in 15 individuals representing 12 different species (24% of Code 1 and 2 stranded cetaceans). The earliest detected case was a humpback whale that stranded in 1998. Sequence comparisons of a 2.2 kb sequence spanning the phosphoprotein (P) and nucleocapsid (N) genes strongly suggest that the BWMV represents a novel strain of CeMV present in Hawai'i and the Central Pacific. In contrast to recently reported isolates from Brazil and Australia that may represent a distinct clade, BWMV appears to be more closely related to known strains of CeMV (dolphin morbillivirus; porpoise morbillivirus; and pilot whale morbillivirus). Detection rates with repeat sampling of positive lymph nodes were between 2 and 61%, illustrating the extreme heterogeneity that can occur in affected tissues. Taken together, these results suggest that BWMV may be common and established in Hawaiian cetacean populations. BWMV will be important for understanding CeMV and health threats in the relatively understudied cetaceans of the Pacific.