the Romanian Black Sea coast. The results indicate a slight increase of marine
mammals’ number as hydroclimatic conditions improved. Thus, in May, due to
warmer weather and the presence of a greater diversity of pelagic fish species, the
main food source for dolphins, more T.T. ponticus and D.D. ponticus indivuiduals
were sighted approaching the coast.
Although the observations carried-out over only 2 months (April and May) are
not sufficient to establish the population status of marine mammals from the
Romanian coast, an estimation of their relative abundance was made, and the
figures indicate a total number of 1706 individuals in spring 2013. The distribution
by species showed that the harbor porpoises recorded the highest numbers of
0
P.phocoena T.truncatus
Northern area
Central area
Southern area
D.delphis
10
20
30
Dolphins distribution by species in the three sectors of the
Romanian coast
(may 2013)
Northern area
Central area
Southern area
Fig. 27.11 Cetacean
distribution by species and
sectors (by boat, May 2013)
Fig. 27.12 Total number of estimated cetaceans in May (by boat)
27 Assessment of Cetacean Population Abundance at the Romanian Black Sea. . .
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