The North Atlantic Oscillation and sea surface temperature affect loggerhead abundance around the Strait of Gibraltar

  1. JOSÉ C. BÁEZ 1
  2. JUAN J. BELLIDO 2
  3. FRANCISCO FERRI-YÁÑEZ 3
  4. JUAN J. CASTILLO 4
  5. JUAN J. MARTÍN 4
  6. JOSÉ L. MONS 4
  7. DAVID ROMERO 5
  8. RAIMUNDO REAL 5
  1. 1 Instituto Español de Oceanografia (IEO), Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, Puerto pesquero de Fuengirola s/n, E-29640, Málaga, Spain. Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga. E-29071, Málaga, Spain.
  2. 2 Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga. E-29071, Málaga, Spain. Aula del Mar de Málaga. Avda. M. Heredia 35, E-29001, Málaga, Spain.
  3. 3 Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga. E-29071, Málaga, Spain. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, 28006, Madrid, Spain.
  4. 4 Aula del Mar de Málaga. Avda. M. Heredia 35, E-29001, Málaga, Spain.
  5. 5 Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga. E-29071, Málaga, Spain.
Revista:
Scientia Marina

ISSN: 0214-8358

Ano de publicación: 2011

Volume: 75

Número: 3

Páxinas: 571-575

Tipo: Artigo

DOI: 10.3989/SCIMAR.2011.75N3571 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openAcceso aberto editor

Outras publicacións en: Scientia Marina

Obxectivos de Desenvolvemento Sustentable

Resumo

The aim of this study was to explore the possible link between variations in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and sea surface temperature (SST) and the abundance of loggerhead turtles around the Strait of Gibraltar, using stranding data for the Andalusian coastal area as a proxy for abundance. The annual average SST (from November to October) in the Gulf of Cadiz was negatively associated with the total number of loggerhead strandings each year from November 1997 to October 2006 in the Gulf of Cadiz and the Alboran Sea. The average NAO index was positively associated with the number of strandings in the Gulf of Cadiz in the following year. Prevailing westerly winds during positive NAO phases and the subsequent delayed decrease in SST may lead to turtles from the west Atlantic accumulating in the Gulf of Cadiz and unsuccessfully attempting to return. Secondary causes, such as buoyancy, cold stunning, longline fisheries, net fisheries, debilitated turtle syndrome, and trauma may also increase the number of turtle strandings.

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