Use of MONICET data to observe the relation between sea water temperature and arrival and departure of "Stenella frontalis" (Cetacea, Delphinidae) in the Azores

Abstract

In order to understand the habitat of any species, it is important to understand the patterns of spatial and temporal distribution, and this paper presents a study on the temporal and spatial distribution of the Atlantic spotted dolphin, Stenella frontalis, associated with temperature parameters. This is intended to find changes in patterns of presence and abundance, based on a record of sighting patterns on the islands during the last 10 years from Whale-watching vessels. It should be noted that, during this time period, the average annual temperature has increased by more than one degree Celsius, starting in 2009 with an average annual temperature of 18.42ºC and reaching an average annual temperature of 19.8ºC in 2018. The whale-watching data from the MONICET platform were used to carry out this analysis, and it can thus be observed that this dolphin is distributed between small to large groups.