20 years of monitoring populations of Mediterranean monk seals in Greece. MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal

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1 20 years f mnitring ppulatins f Mediterranean mnk seals in Greece MOm/Hellenic Sciety fr the Study and Prtectin f the Mnk Seal Slmu Str. 18, Athens, GREECE MOm/The Hellenic Sciety fr the Study and Prtectin f the Mnk Seal is a Greek, nn-gvernmental rganizatin dedicated t the study and prtectin f the critically endangered Mediterranean mnk seal (Mnachus mnachus). Funded in 1988 in Athens, the Sciety has been carrying ut fr mre than 20 years research and cnservatin actins thrughut Greece; MOm s researchers have participated als in research and cnservatin activities in Crsica, Cyprus, Madeira, Mauritania and Turkey. Althugh the research and cnservatin actins f MOm are carried ut thrughut the entire cuntry, MOm has invested cnsiderable time and energy in studying and prtecting the main reprductive mnk seal ppulatins identified until nw in the cuntry (i.e. Nrthern Sprades, Nrthern and suthwestern Cyclades, Suthern Ddecanese islands). In these areas, MOm s research team has develped new r applied r mdified a variety f already existing methdlgies while studying lcal seal ppulatins. MOm s research activities began in the area f the Nrthern Sprades islands; this area has gained ntriety, as it is here where the first marine park in Greece, the Natinal Marine Park f Alnniss, Nrthern Sprades (NMPANS) was established in The area is f internatinal imprtance fr the Mediterranean mnk seal as it hlds ne f the largest ppulatins f the species in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The systematic mnitring f this ppulatin, carried ut frm 1990 t 2006, was based n tw different methdlgical appraches. The first apprach invlved the frequent visit f castal caves used by the species fr resting and pupping and the use f 1

2 preprgrammed phtgraphic cameras (Dendrins et al. 1994, Dendrins et al. 1999). During cave visits, the researchers recrded all indirect indicatins f previus use f the cave (such as tracks, scats, bld etc.) and dcumented direct bservatins with the use f pht- r vide cameras. Preprgrammed phtgraphic cameras were installed and prgrammed accrding t the general specificatins f Hiby (1987); cameras were prgrammed t take pictures every tw hurs and were installed at six f the mst frequently-used caves in the NMPANS. Thrughut the prject individual mnk seal identificatin was based n the presence f the sexually dimrphic patch at pups and adult males and scars and ther external mrphlgical features at all ther stages f develpment. Until 2002 MOm s researchers carried ut 3395 visits t the caves in the NMPANS. In 30% f these visits seals were either directly bserved r indirect evidence f their previus presence was recrded; nly 15% f the adult individuals directly bserved in the caves were males. The preprgrammed cameras tk 4231 pictures, 395 f which had a ttal f 613 animals n them. As with the visits t the caves, 85% f the adult individuals n the pictures were females! The cmbined analysis f the data frm the visits and the preprgrammed cameras indicates that female cave usage thrughut the year is much mre intense than male usage. Furthermre, adult males visit the caves cnstantly thrughut the year, with a small peak in February when mlting ccurs, while female cave usage exhibits a prlnged peak frm September t March, which includes pupping and mlting. The secnd apprach fr mnitring the Mediterranean mnk seal ppulatin in the NMPANS was based n the installatin and peratin f a remte infrared mnitring system at ne f the main pupping sites f the species in the NMPANS (July - Nvember 2003) (Dendrins et al. 2007b). During this study the mnitring system recrded the presence in the cave f fur adult females, ne female pup and tw juveniles f unidentified sex. It als recrded imprtant infrmatin regarding haul-ut patterns and scial and reprductive aspects f the species behavir (Figure 1). During the entire perid f the deplyment f the mnitring system n adult males were bserved in the cave. 2

3 Figure 1: Sequence f images frm the CCTV system installed in the NMPANS shwing an aggressive interactin between a lactating Mediterranean mnk seal and a juvenile. Frm tp left t bttm right: a) Juvenile Mediterranean mnk seal appraching a lactating female and its pup, b) Lactating female charging against the juvenile and biting it at its left fre flipper, c) Lactating female chasing the juvenile away, d) Lactating female pursuing the juvenile and trampling ver its newbrn pup. The secnd area that has been systematically mnitred by MOm are the islands f Gyars in the Nrthern Cyclades (Dendrins et al. 2008) and the islands f Kimls and Plyaigs in the suthwestern Cyclades (MOm 2005). Mnitring mnk seals in this area was based mainly n the methdlgy develped and applied in the NMPANS. Pupping activity at Kimls and Plyaigs was recrded in 13 f the 21 caves used by the species, while mean annual pup prductin was eight pups. In additin t the cave visits carried ut in this area, in the summer f 2007 a remte infrared mnitring system was installed at ne f the main pupping sites in the area (Karamanlidis et al. In prep.). The main difference t the system deplyed at 3

4 the NMPANS was the ptin f remte cntrl, via satellite link and Internet cnnectin. During this research prject tw mnk seal births were recrded and ten animals were identified (nly ne f them was an adult male!). The system enabled als the study f maternal attendance, haul-ut patterns and aggressive interactins between females and nn-affiliated pups (Fig. 2). Figure 2: Sequence f images frm an autmatic infrared mnitring system installed in a castal cave at the island f Kimls, Greece t mnitr Mediterranean mnk seals (Mnachus mnachus). a) While trying t prevent her pup frm being washed away by waves a female Mediterranean mnk seal climbs ver a 1.2m high blder. b) Presentatin f the secnd pup was head first. c) Mments after the birth f a male pup, the umbilicus crd was ruptured. d) Secnds after parturitin the mther-pup pair engaged in intense nuzzling. Mnitring the Mediterranean mnk seal ppulatin in the area f Karpaths Saria Astakida in the sutheastern Ddecanese islands was carried ut frm 1997 t 2005 and in 2008 (MOm 2008a). This area received prtective status in 2007 (i.e. Karpaths Saria Ecdevelpment Area). 4

5 Mnitring here was based als n the methdlgy applied in the NMPANS; three ut f the 20 caves were used fr pupping and mean annual pup prductin was five pups. In additin, three infrared pht cameras were installed in the summer f 2008 at the tw mst frequently-used pupping sites in the area. The difference t the cameras used in the NMPANS was that they were heat- and mtin-sensitive. During their deplyment, the cameras tk 4767 images with seals n them and enabled the identificatin f twelve adult females, ne juvenile male and six newbrn pups (Fig. 3). Invaluable infrmatin n lactatin and aggressive interactin between females was als cllected. 5

6 Figure 3: Pht-identificatin card f Female F_Kar_1 6

7 During the 20 years f mnitring Mediterranean mnk seal ppulatins in Greece, MOm s researchers have had t mdify r adjust their research methdlgies n varius ccasins and have gained valuable experiences regarding the advantages and disadvantages f using each ne f them (Table 1). Table 1: Advantages and disadvantages f the applicatin f varius methdlgies in Mediterranean mnk seal research in Greece Research methdlgy Recrding the presence f the species at its terrestrial habitat Autmatic pht cameras Autmatic vide cameras Advantage Gd mnitring f habitat quality Gd recrding f habitat use Accurate recrding f basic reprductive parameters Lw cst Gd recrding f natural behaviur Gd individual identificatin Minimal disturbance Excellent recrding f natural behaviur Gd individual identificatin N disturbance Very gd fr public awareness Disadvantage Pr individual identificatin Pr quality f ppulatin estimates, due t the cnspicuus absence f adult males in the caves Cst & lgistic challenges Equipment is weather and damage prne Medium quality ppulatin estimates Very expensive can be used nly very selectively Lw quality ppulatin estimates Taking int accunt the abve, a pragmatic apprach t mnitring mnk seals in Greece shuld cnsider the fllwing facts: Greece hlds the largest ppulatin f Mediterranean mnk seals in the wrld (MOm 2007, MOm 2008b, MOm 2009). The species is widely distributed thrughut the cuntry (Adamantpulu et al. 1999); ptential habitat is extensive amng the 15,000 km f castline and apprximately 4,000 islands f Greece. Within this range, MOm has identified s far, mre than 500 resting and 7

8 pupping sites, while having surveyed less than 30% f the entire castline f the cuntry (MOm 2007). The scial and reprductive structure f the species leads it t ccupy numerus, inaccessible caves (Dendrins et al. 2007a). Lgistic and financial resurces fr mnitring mnk seals in the cuntry are limited. Bearing the abve in mind, MOm s research strategy fr mnitring Mediterranean mnk seal ppulatins in the cming years will evlve mainly arund the fllwing pints: Systematic pup cunts in selected cre areas in rder t mnitr the reprductive ptential and basic demgraphic trends f the species. Mnitring habitat quality and cnnectivity thrughut the cuntry; identifying new reprductive areas will be a pririty. Cntinuatin and further develpment f the Rescue and Infrmatin Netwrk f MOm, in rder t mnitr gegraphical distributin and ppulatin and health status f the species thrughut the cuntry. Genetic tracking in rder t assess demgraphic histry, ppulatin dynamics and genetic status f Mediterranean mnk seals in Greece. Literature Cited ADAMANTOPOULOU, S., E. ANDROUKAKI and S. KOTOMATAS The Distributin f the Mediterranean Mnk Seal in Greece based n an infrmatin netwrk. Cntributins t the Zgegraphy and Eclgy f the Eastern Mediterranean Regin 1: DENDRINOS, P., E. TOUNTA, S. KOTOMATAS and A. KOTTAS Recent data n the Mediterranean Mnk Seal ppulatin f the Nrthern Sprades. Bis (Macednia/Greece) 2: DENDRINOS, P., S. KOTOMATAS and E. TOUNTA Mnk seal Pup Prductin in the Natinal Marine Park f Alnisss-N.Sprades. Cntributins t the Zgegraphy and Eclgy f the Eastern Mediterranean Regin 1:

9 DENDRINOS, P., A. A. KARAMANLIDIS, S. KOTOMATAS, A. LEGAKIS, E. TOUNTA and J. MATTHIOPOULOS. 2007a. Pupping habitat use in the Mediterranean mnk seal: a lng-term study. Marine Mammal Science 23: DENDRINOS, P., E. TOUNTA, A. A. KARAMANLIDIS, A. LEGAKIS and S. KOTOMATAS. 2007b. A vide surveillance system fr mnitring the endangered Mediterranean Mnk Seal (Mnachus mnachus). Aquatic Mammals 33: DENDRINOS, P., A. A. KARAMANLIDIS, S. KOTOMATAS, V. PARAVAS and S. ADAMANTOPOULOU Reprt f a New Mediterranean Mnk Seal (Mnachus mnachus) Breeding Clny in the Aegean Sea, Greece. Aquatic Mammals 34: HIBY, A. R Develpment f Camera Equipment. Pages in J. HARWOOD ed. Ppulatin bilgy f the Mediterranean mnk seal in Greece. Natural Envirnmental Research Cuncil. Sea Mammal Research Unit, Cambridge, UK. KARAMANLIDIS, A. A., V. PARAVAS, F. TRILLMICH and P. DENDRINOS. In review. First Observatins f Parturitin and Pstpartum Behavir in the Mediterranean mnk seal (Mnachus mnachus) in the Eastern Mediterranean. MOM Status reprt f the Mediterranean mnk seal ppulatins in Kimls - Plyaigs and Karpaths - Saria areas. Final reprt t E.C. f the LIFE Nature 2000 Prject (LIFE00NAT/GR/7248). MOm/Hellenic Sciety fr the Study and Prtectin f the Mnk Seal. February MOM Status f the Ppulatin f the Mediterranean Mnk Seal (Mnachus mnachus) in Greece. January MOM. 2008a. Final Reprt n the Mnitring f the Status f the Ppulatin f the Mnk Seal, in Karpaths and Saria. MOm/Hellenic Sciety fr the Study and Prtectin f the Mnk seal. December MOM. 2008b. Annual Technical Reprt 2007, n the Status f the Mediterranean Mnk Seal (Mnachus mnachus) in Greece. February

10 MOM Annual Technical Reprt 2008, n the Status f the Mediterranean Mnk Seal (Mnachus mnachus) in Greece. February