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Browsing by Author "Smultea, Mari A."

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  • Cetacean and sea turtle observations in the remote mid-atlantic (NW) ocean
    Publication . Wachtendonk, Rachel; Smultea, Mari A.; Pedrie, Kolby
    Due to its remoteness, little is known about the occurrence and abundance of cetaceans and sea turtles in the pelagic mid-Atlantic Ocean. Data on cetacean and sea turtle occurrence and distribution were collected by dedicated biological observers to address U.S. monitoring and mitigation requirements associated with a vessel based academic geophysical survey in international waters in the northwestern and mid -Atlantic Ocean from 14 June through 16 July 2018. A total of 6,949 km (503 h) of visual observations occurred while surveying north from Bermuda and ending in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. A total of 928 cetaceans representing at least 14 species and 15 sea turtles representing three species were observed. The most frequently observed cetacean species was the Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus) (340 individuals; 37%) followed by the short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) (286 individuals; 31%) and pilot whales (Globicephala spp.) (95 individuals; 10%). These sighting data also included an extralimital sighting of a sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) calf at 43.44 degrees N latitude and 36.85 degrees W longitude, and extralimital sightings of Atlantic white-sided dolphins below 38 degrees N latitude. Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) were seen most frequently (6 individuals). This study addresses a data gap in documented occurrence and lack of occurrence of cetaceans and sea turtles over a large pelagic area in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean during summer.
    2023Journal article Restricted access Show more
  • Marine mammal visual and acoustic surveys near the Alaskan Colville River Delta
    Publication . Lomac-MacNair, Kate S.; Smultea, Mari A.; Yack, Tina; Lammers, Marc; Norris, Tom; Green, Gregory; Dunleavey, Kerry; Steckler, Dave; James, Vanessa
    Information about the occurrence of marine mammals near the Colville River Delta (CRD), Beaufort Sea, Alaska is limited for most species expected to occur in this region. As part of marine mammal monitoring and mitigation for a seismic acquisition program August 25-September 30, 2014, we recorded marine mammal occurrence in a 30km(2) survey area between the Spy Islands and Oliktok Point near Simpson Lagoon using a combination of visual and acoustic monitoring methods. Visual effort totaled 632h, occurring 18-20h/day during all daylight hours by observers aboard three small survey vessels. In addition, an Inupiat observer and seal hunter from the village of Nuiqsut conducted a small-vessel survey to investigate locations of Phoca largha haul-out sites. A total of 102 individual marine mammals were recorded from five species: P. largha, Pusa hispida, Ursus maritimus, Erignathus barbatus, and Delphinapterus leucas. Over 400h of acoustic data were recorded using second-generation Ecological Acoustic Recorders deployed on the seafloor at three locations. Calls were identified for D. leucas, Balaena mysticetus, E. barbatus, and P. hispida. Results provide valuable information on marine mammal occurrence for the Beaufort Sea CRD during summer/fall, an area proposed for potential offshore oil and gas development.
    2019-02Journal article Restricted access Show more