Strandings of the beaked whales, Risso’s dolphins, and a minke whale on the Turkish coast of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

Abstract Stranding information of nine Cuvier‟s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) and one Mesoplodon sp., five Risso‟s dolphin (Grampus griseus), and one minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) on the Turkish coast of the Aegean and Mediterranean Sea was compiled, based on the published and unpublished data between 1964 and 2011. Mesoplodon sp. and the minke whale were rare, possibly visitors, in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Keywords

• Key words: Eastern Mediterranean, Cetacean strandings, Turkey, Cuvier‟s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), Risso‟s dolphin (Grampus griseus), Mesoplodon, minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)

References

1. Bearzi, G., Reeves, R.R., Remonato, E., Pierantonio, N., Airoldi, S. (2011) Risso‟s dolphin Grampus griseus in the Mediterranean Sea. Mammailan Biology 76: 385-400.
2. Cox, T.M., Ragen, T.J., Read, A.J., Vos, E., Baird, R.W., Balcomb, K., Barlow, J., Caldwell, J., Cranford, T., Crum, L., D'Amico, A., D'Spain, G., Fernandez, A., Finneran, J., Gentry, R., Gerth, W., Gulland, F., Hildebrand, J., Houser, D., Hullar, T., Jepson, P.D., Ketten, D., MacLeod, C.D., Miller, P., Moore, S., Mountain, D., Palka, D., Ponganis, P., Rommel, S., Rowles, T., Taylor, B., Tyack, P., Warzok, D., Gisiner, R., Mead, J. & Benner, L. (2006) Understanding the impacts of anthropogenic sound on beaked whales. J. Cetacean Res.Manage. 7: 177–187.
3. Frantzis, A. (1998) Does acoustic testing strand whales? Nature 392: 29.
4. Jefferson, T.A., Leatherwood, S., Webber, M.A. (1993) FAO Species Identification Guide. Marine Mammals of the World. FAO, Rome, 320 pp.
5. Kinzelbach, R. (1985) Der Cuvier-Schnabelwal (Ziphius cavirostris) im östlichen Mittelmeer. Z. Säugetierkunde 50: 314-316.
6. Marchessaux, D. (1980) A review of the current knowledge of the cetaceans in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Vie et Marine 2: 59-66.
7. Nortarbartolo di Sciara, G. (2009) Stranding of a rare beaked whale in Turkey. FINS, the Newsletter of ACCOBAMS 4(2): 15.
8. Nortarbartolo di Sciara, G., Birkun, A.Jr. (2010) Conserving Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises in the Mediterranean and Black Seas: an ACCOBAMS Status Report, 2010. ACCOBAMS, Monaco, 212 p.

9. Öztürk, B. (1996) Whales and Dolphins. Anahtar Publ. Istanbul. 119 p. (in Turkish)
10. Özturk, B., Özturk, A.A. (1998) Cetacean strandings in the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts of Turkey. Rapp. Comm. int. Mer Medit. 35: 467.
11. Öztürk, B., Salman, A., Öztürk, A.A., Tonay, A. (2007) Cephalopod remains in the diet of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and Risso‟s dolphins (Grampus griseus) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Vie et Milieu 57(1/2): 53- 59.
12. Öztürk, E. (2002) Happiness of coming across a whale. Sualtı Dünyası 68: 70- 72. (in Turkish)
13. Podesta, M., D‟amico, A., Pavan, G., Drougas, A., Komnenou, A., Portunato, N. (2006) A review of Cuvier‟s beaked whale strandings in the Mediterranean Sea. J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 7(3): 251-261.
14. Scheinin, A., Kerem, D., Goffman, O., Spanier, E. (2004) Rare occurrences of cetaceans along the Israeli Mediterranean coast. FINS, the Newsletter of ACCOBAMS 1(1): 19.
15. Tonay, A.M., Dede, A., Öztürk, A.A., Öztürk, B. (2009) Cetacean strandings in the Turkish Straits System (TSS) and the Northern Aegean Sea coast of Turkey during 1999-2008. Proc. 23rd Annual Conf. European Cetacean Society, Istanbul, Turkey.
16. Verriopoulou, A., Tounta, E., Dendrinos, P. (2001) First report of a minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacepede, 1804) in Hellenic waters. Aquat. Mamm. 27 (2): 137-139.