Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-hvd4g Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-11T12:07:55.881Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Cetacean diversity off La Réunion Island (France)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2008

Violaine Dulau-Drouot ,
Virginie Boucaud  and
Bernard Rota
Violaine Dulau-Drouot*
Affiliation:
Groupe Local d'Observation et d'Identification des Cétacés (GLOBICE), 22 Chemin Box-Les 400, 97432, Ravine des Cabris, La Réunion, France
Virginie Boucaud
Affiliation:
Groupe Local d'Observation et d'Identification des Cétacés (GLOBICE), 22 Chemin Box-Les 400, 97432, Ravine des Cabris, La Réunion, France
Bernard Rota
Affiliation:
Groupe Local d'Observation et d'Identification des Cétacés (GLOBICE), 22 Chemin Box-Les 400, 97432, Ravine des Cabris, La Réunion, France
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Violaine Dulau-Drouot, Groupe Local d'Observation et d'Identification des Cétacés (GLOBICE), 22 Chemin Box-Les 400, 97432 Ravine des Cabris, La Réunion, France email: violainedr@hotmail.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The waters of La Réunion, a French island located in the south-western Indian Ocean, have never been investigated for cetacean diversity. Dedicated daily surveys were conducted in 2004–2007 to assess cetacean diversity off the western and southern coasts of the island. A total of ten species was observed during the survey period, including two baleen whales and eight odontocetes. Four additional species that had not been observed at sea were reported stranded. The most frequent delphinid species were the Indo-Pacific bottlenose, the spinner and the common bottlenose dolphins, which were observed year-round. Photo-identification data showed a high recapture rate of Tursiops aduncus, strongly suggesting a resident population. The humpback whale uses the coastal waters of La Réunion seasonally, during winter. The high proportion of mother–calf pairs indicated that La Réunion might represent a breeding area for this species. Pantropical spotted dolphin, melon-headed whale and Fraser's dolphin were sighted at a medium frequency, in offshore waters, and tended to favour the southern part of the island. Three coastal species were frequently using the newly created Marine Protected Area (MPA), supporting the view that cetacean conservation issues have to be included in the MPA management plan currently in progress.

Keywords

cetaceandiversitydistributionIndian Ocean
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 88 , Special Issue 6: Marine Mammals , September 2008 , pp. 1263 - 1272
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Amir, O.A., Jiddawi, N.S. and Berggren, P. (2005) The occurrence and distribution of dolphins in Zanzibar, Tanzania with comments on the differences between two species of Tursiops. Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science 4, 85–93.Google Scholar
Anderson, R.C. (2005) Observations of cetaceans in the Maldives 1990–2002. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 7, 119–135.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baird, R.W., McSweeney, D.J., Webster, D.L., Gorgone, A.M. and Ligon, A.D. (2003) Studies of odontocete population structure in Hawaiian waters: results of a survey through the main Hawaiian islands in May and June 2003. Report prepared under contract no.AB133F-02-CN-0106 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Western Administrative Support Center, Seattle, USA, 25 p.Google Scholar
Ballance, L.T. and Pitman, R.L. (1998) Cetaceans of the western tropical Indian Ocean: distribution, relative abundance and comparison with cetacean communities of two other tropical ecosystems. Marine Mammal Science 14, 429–459.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Begon, M., Harper, J.L. and Townsend, C.R. (1996) Ecology, 3rd edn. London: Blackwell Science Ltd.Google Scholar
Best, P.B., Findlay, K.P., Sekiguchi, K., Peddemors, V.M., Rakotonirian, B., Rossouw, A. and Grove, D. (1998) Winter distribution and possible migration routes of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the southwest Indian Ocean. Marine Ecology Progress Series 162, 287–299.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Best, P.B., Sekiguchi, K. and Findlay, K.P. (1995) A suspended migration of humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae on the west coast of South Africa. Marine Ecology Progress Series 118, 1–12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Best, P.B., Sekiguchi, K., Rakotonirina, B.P. and Rossouw, A. (1996) The distribution and abundance of humpback whales off southern Madagascar, August–September 1994. Report of the International Whaling Commission 46, 323–331.Google Scholar
de Boer, M.N. et al. (2002) Cetaceans in the Indian Ocean Sanctuary: a review. Paper SC/54/O5 presented to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission [unpublished].Google Scholar
Cadinouche, A. (2006) Evaluation initiale de l'activité ‘Dolphin-watching’ à Maurice. Report of the Mauritius Marine Conservation Society, 28 pp.Google Scholar
Chilvers, L. and Cockeron, P.J. (2003) Abundance of Indo-Pacific bottenose dolphins, Tursiops aduncus, off point Lookout, Queensland, Australia. Marine Mammal Science 19, 85–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Conand, F., Marsac, F., Tessier, E. and Conand, C. (2007) A ten-year period of daily sea surface temperature at a coastal station in Réunion Island, Indian Ocean (July 1993-April 2004): patterns of variability and biological responses. Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science 6, 1–16.Google Scholar
Corbett, H.D. (1994) The occurrence of cetaceans of Mauritius and adjacent waters. Report of the International Whaling Commission 44, 393–397.Google Scholar
Ersts, P.J., Pomilla, C., Rosenbaum, H.C., Kiszka, J. and Vély, M. (2006) Humpback whales identified in the territorial waters of Mayotte [C2] and matches to eastern Madagascar [C3]. Paper SC/A06/HW12 presented to the International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee Workshop on the Comprehensive Assessment of Southern Hemisphere humpback whales. April 2006, Hobart, Australia [unpublished].Google Scholar
Ersts, P.J. and Rosenbaum, H.C. (2003) Habitat preference reflects social organization of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) on a wintering ground. Journal of Zoology 260, 337–345.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eyre, E.J. (1995) Observations of cetaceans in the Indian ocean whale sanctuary, May–July 1993. Report of the International Whaling Commission 45, 419–426.Google Scholar
Findlay, K.P., Best, P.B., Peddemors, V.M. and Gove, D. (1994) The distribution and abundance of humpback whales on their southern and central Mozambique winter grounds. Report of the International Whaling Commission 44, 311–320.Google Scholar
Gannier, A. (2000) Distribution of cetaceans off the Society Islands (French Polynesia) as obtained from dedicated survey. Aquatic Mammals 26, 111–126.Google Scholar
Gannier, A. (2002) Distribution of cetaceans in the Marquesas Islands (French Polynesia) as obtained from a small boat dedicated survey. Aquatic Mammals 28, 198–210.Google Scholar
Gannier, A. (2006) Environmental variables affecting the residence of spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) in a Bay of Tahiti (French Polynesia). Aquatic Mammals 32, 202–211.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
IWC (2006) Report of the IWC Scientific Committee workshop on the comprehensive assessment of Southern Hemisphere humpback whales. Report of the International Whaling Commission SC/58/Rep 5.Google Scholar
Jaquemet, S., Le Corre, M. and Weimerskirch, H. (2004) Seabird community structure in a coastal tropical environment: importance of natural factors and fish aggregating devices (FADs). Marine Ecology Progress Series 268, 281–292.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jefferson, T.A. and Barros, N.B. (1997) Peponocephala electra. Mammalian Species 553, 1–6.Google Scholar
Kasuya, T. and Wada, S. (1991) Distribution of large cetaceans in the Indian Ocean: data from Japanese sighting records, November–March. In Leatherwood, S. and Donovan, G.P. (eds) Cetaceans and cetacean research in the Indian Ocean Sanctuary. Marine Mammal Technical Report No. 3. Nairobi, Kenya: UNEP, pp. 139–170.Google Scholar
Kiszka, J., Breysse, O., Boinali, K. and Vely, M. (2006a) Marine mammals around the Union of the Comoros (Mozambique Channel): recent records and review of available information. Paper SC/58/O6 submitted to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission, 5 p.Google Scholar
Kiszka, J., Ersts, P.J. and Ridoux, V. (2006b) Cetacean diversity in a tropical lagoon (Mayotte, Comoros), in the Mozambique Channel (western tropical Indian Ocean). Paper SC/58/O13 submitted to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission, 7 p.Google Scholar
Kiszka, J., Berggren, P. and Rosenbaum, H.C. (2007) Marine mammals in the western tropical Indian Ocean: a review of their status and threats. In Kiska, J. and Muir, C. (eds) Proceedings of the workshop on incidental catches of non-targeted marine species in the western Indian Ocean: problems and mitigation measures, Mayotte, France, 13–15 November 2006, pp. 23–34.Google Scholar
Leatherwood, S. and Donovan, G.P. eds (1991) Cetaceans and cetacean research in the Indian Ocean Sanctuary. Marine Mammal Technical Report No. 3. UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya: UNEP.Google Scholar
Minton, G., Collins, T., Findlay, K., Baldwin, R., Rosenbaum, H., Kennedy, F. and Cockcroft, V. (2002) Preliminary investigations of Humpback whale distribution and habitat use off the coast of Oman. Paper IWC SC/54/H3, presented to the International Whaling Commission, 20 pp.Google Scholar
Norris, K.S. and Dohl, T.P. (1980) Behaviour of the Hawaiian spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris. Fishery Bulletin 77, 821–849.Google Scholar
Norris, K.S. and Johnson, C.M. (1994) Schools and schooling. In Norris, K.S. et al. (eds) The Hawaiian spinner dolphin. London: University of California Press, pp. 65–102.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peddemors, V.M. (1999) Delphinids in southern Africa: a review of their distribution, status and life History. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 1, 157–165.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Perrin, W.F., Robertson, K.M., Van Bree, P.J.H. and Mead, J.G. (2007) Cranial description and genetic identity of the holotype specimen of Tursiops aduncus (Ehrenberg, 1832). Marine Mammal Science 23, 343–357.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Poisson, F., Marjolet, C., Mété, K. and Vanpouille, M. (2001) Evaluation du phénomène de déprédation dû aux mammifères marins. In Poisson, F. and Taquet, M. (eds) L'espadon: de la recherche à l'exploitation durable. Programme Palangre Réunionais. Rapport Final, Novembre 2001, pp. 231–247.Google Scholar
Pomilla, C., Best, P.B., Findlay, K.P., Collins, T., Engel, M., Minton, G., Ersts, P., Barendse, J., Kotze, P.G.H., Razafindrakoto, Y., Ngouessono, S., Meyer, M., Thornton, M. and Rosenbaum, H. (2006) Population structure and sex-biased gene flow in humpback whales from Wintering Regions A, B, C, and X based on nuclear microsatellite variation. Paper SC/A06/HW38 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee Workshop on the Comprehensive Assessment of Southern Hemisphere humpback whales, April 2006, Hobart, Australia [unpublished].Google Scholar
Rasmussen, K., Palacios, D.M., Calambokidis, J., Saborio, M.T., Dalla Roa, L., Secchi, E.R., Steiger, G.H., Allen, J.M. and Stone, G.S. (2007) Southern Hemisphere humpback whales wintering off Central America: insights from water temperature into the longest mammalian migration. Biology Letters (electronic supplementary material) 3, 302–305.Google ScholarPubMed
Reiner, F. (1996) Cetaceans of the Cape Verde archipelago. Marine Mammal Science 12, 434–443.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rosenbaum, H.C. (2003) Marine mammals of Madagascar. In Goodman, S. and Bengston, J. (eds) The natural history of Madagascar. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, pp. 213–216.Google Scholar
Rosenbaum, H.C. (2006) MtDNA diversity and population structure of humpback whales from their wintering areas in the Indian and South Atlantic Ocean (Breeding regions A, B C, and X). Paper SC/A06/HW41 presented to the International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee Workshop on the Comprehensive Assessment of Southern Hemisphere humpback whales, April 2006, Hobart, Australia [unpublished].Google Scholar
Rosenbaum, H.C., Walsh, P.D., Razafindrakoto, Y., Vely, M. and DeSalle, R. (1997) First description of a humpback whale breeding ground in Baie d'Antongil, Madagascar. Conservation Biology 11, 312–314.Google Scholar
Ross, G.J.B., Cockcroft, V.G. and Butterworh, D.S. (1987) Offshore distribution of bottlenose dolphins in Natal waters and Algoa Bay, eastern Cape. South African Journal of Zoology 22, 50–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ross, G.J.B. and Cockcroft, V.G. (1990) Comments on Australian bottlenose dolphins and taxonomic stock of Tursiops aduncus (Ehrenburg 1832). In Leatherwood, S. and Reeves, R.R. (eds) The bottlnose dolphin. San Diego: Academic Press, pp. 329–336.Google Scholar
Shirakihara, M., Shirakihara, K., Tomonaga, J. and Takatsuki, M. (2002) A resident population of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in Amakusa, Western Kyushu, Japan. Marine Mammal Science 18, 30–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, S.D. and Whitehead, H. (1999) Distribution of dolphins in Galapagos waters. Marine Mammal Science 15, 550–555.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stensland, E., Angerbjorn, A. and Berggren, P. (2003) Mixed species groups in mammals. Mammal Review 33, 205–223.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stensland, E., Särnblad, A., Carlén, I., Bignert, A. and Berggren, P. (2006) Abundance, distribution and behavioral ecology of Indo-Pacific bottlenose (Tursiops aduncus) and humpback (Sousa chinensis) dolphins off the south coast of Zanzibar. Marine Mammal Science 22, 667–682.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tyack, P. (1981) Interactions between singing hawaiian humpback whales and conspecifics nearby. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 8, 105–116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Canneyt, O. (2005) Les échouages de mammifères marins sur le littoral français en 2004. Rapport CRMM pour le Ministère de l'Ecologie et du Développement Durable, Direction de la Nature et des Paysages, Programme Observatoire du Patrimoine Naturel, 36 p.Google Scholar
Whitehead, H. (1985) Humpback whale songs from the Northern Indian Ocean. Investigations on Cetacea 17, 157–162.Google Scholar
Würsig, B., Wells, R.S., Norris, K.S. and Würsig, M. (1994) A spinner dolphin's day. In Norris, K.S. et al. (eds) The Hawaiian spinner dolphin. London: University of California Press, pp. 65–102.Google Scholar