Current research projects

EUROPEAN CETACEAN SOCIETY CONFERENCE 2010

Ketos Ecology will be presenting a poster entitled 'Conservation of the vulnerable Atlantic humpback dolphin (Sousa teuszii) in southern Angola: an uncertain future?' at the 2010 ECS conference in Stralsund, Germany from 22nd to 24th March.  The poster will be available at stand C06.

WEST AFRICA CETACEAN SURVEYS

Ketos Ecology is continuing cetacean and marine turtle surveys in deep water offshore of West Africa.  For information (species accounts, field trip diaries, data recording forms) on previous surveys off West Africa please visit the ANGOLA section of our website. 

TURTLE GUARDS

During 2007 Ketos Ecology released a document outlining the problem of accidental mortality of marine turtles in the tail buoys towed by seismic survey vessels (Ketos Ecology, 2007).  The document contained information on the mechanism of turtle entrapment in this equipment and recommendations for minimising its occurrence via the use of 'turtle guards'.  During October 2007, this information was distributed to the IAGC, the OGP and various seismic regulatory authorities with the aim of raising awareness and finding a long-term solution to the problem.  In late 2008 and 2009 it became apparent that turtle fatalities were continuing to occur in seismic gear fitted with particular 'turtle guard' designs.  The Turtle Guard section of the website has been updated accordingly, and Ketos Ecology is continuing efforts to address this problem.

A guidance document on establishing a protocol for operations to release turtles trapped in discarded fishing nets has also been produced by Ketos Ecology and information is available on the Turtle Rescue page.

ATLANTIC HUMPBACK DOLPHIN DOLPHIN PROJECT

Ketos Ecology carried out pioneering work on Atlantic humpback dolphins (Sousa teuszii) in Angolan waters during January and June/July 2008.  This small cetacean species is endemic to coastal waters between Angola and Morocco, and is very poorly known.  Information on Atlantic humpback dolphins, the survey methods and results and a catalogue of the individual humpback dolphins photographed off Angola can be downloaded following the link above. A scientific paper outlining the ecological findings of the humpback dolphin study is due for publication during early 2010, and a paper on the whistles produced by the dolphins is also due for publication during 2010.

ABERDEEN CETACEAN CATALOGUE

Ketos Ecology maintains a photo-identification catalogue for individual bottlenose and white-beaked dolphins photographed off Aberdeen since 1999.  This catalogue will be continuously updated as further survey work is carried out during 2010.  Information and a free download of the Aberdeen Cetacean Catalogue (ACC) Version 2 (June 2008) can be found at the link above. 

Scientific research

Publications by (or involving) Ketos Ecology during 2010 include:

• Weir, C.R., Collins, T., Carvalho, I. and Rosenbaum, H.C. Killer whales (Orcinus orca) in Angolan and Gulf of Guinea waters, tropical West Africa. In Press, Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK.

• Weir, C.R. First description of Atlantic humpback dolphin (Sousa teuszii) whistles, recorded off Angola. In Press, Bioacoustics.

• Weir, C.R. Cetaceans observed in the coastal waters of Namibe Province, Angola, during summer and winter 2008. In Press, Marine Biodiversity Records.

• Weir, C.R. Sightings of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus Smith 1828) off Angola and Nigeria. In Press, Marine Biodiversity Records.

• Weir, C.R. (2010). A review of cetacean occurrence in West African waters from the Gulf of Guinea to Angola. Mammal Review, 40(1): 2-39.

• Weir, C.R. (2009).  Distribution, behaviour and photo-identification of Atlantic humpback dolphins (Sousa teuszii) off Flamingos, Angola. African Journal of Marine Science, 31(3): 319–331.