Contained in:
Book Chapter

Monitoring the mediterranean monk seal in the Central Mediterean Sea

  • Luigi Bundone
  • Aliki Panou
  • Gema Hernandez-Milian
  • Giulio Pojana

The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus was once a common inhabitant of the Mediterranean Sea. Over time, its distribution has experienced a sharp reduction, primarily attributed to various factors stemming from human activities. Known reproductive sub-populations of the species are nowadays concentrated along the coasts of Greece and Turkey. However, occasional but recurrent sightings or movements of individuals are being recorded along most of the coasts in the species ́ former distribution range within the Mediterranean Sea. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive require the establishment of monitoring programmes to obtain indicators for the Good Environmental Status of European waters. Here we present the monitoring programmes we carried out on the Endangered Mediterranean monk seal in the central Mediterranean Sea. The output of the work carried out in the central Mediterranean Sea for such a long period of time indicates the relevance of continuous monitoring systems for the monk seal as a top predator in the area. a. The species may be useful as a key species within the Marine Strategy Framework Directive for Descriptors D1 (Marine Biodiversity), D4 (Food Webs) and D10 (Marine Litter).

  • Keywords:
  • Marine ecosystems,
  • Biodiversity,
  • Threatened species,
  • Monitoring of coastal ecosystems,
+ Show More

Luigi Bundone

Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0002-4961-7410

Aliki Panou

Archipelagos, Greece - ORCID: 0000-0002-3312-4662

Gema Hernandez-Milian

Archipelagos - environment and development, Spain - ORCID: 0000-0003-2729-8348

Giulio Pojana

Centre Oceanographic Vigo (IEO-CSIC), Italy - ORCID: 0000-0002-2691-3807

  1. Karamanlidis A.A., Dendrinos P. (2023) - Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus (Hermann, 1779). In Hackländer K., Zachis F.E. (Eds) - Handbook of mammals of Europe, Springer, Cham DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-65038-8_143-1
  2. Bundone L., Panou A., Molinaroli E. (2019) – On sightings of (vagrants?) monk seals, Monachus monachus, in the Mediterranean Basin and their importance for the conservation of the species, Aquat. Conserv.: Mar. Freshw. 29 (4), 554 - 563 DOI: 10.1002/aqc.3005
  3. Karamanlidis A.A. (2023) - Current status, biology, threats and conservation priorities of the Vulnerable Mediterranean monk seal. Endanger. Species Res. 53, 341-361 DOI: 10.3354/esr01304
  4. Valsecchi E., Tavecchia G., Boldrocchi G., Coppola E., Ramella D. Conte L., Blasi M., Bruno A., Galli P. (2023) – Playing “hide and seek” with the Mediterranean monk seal: a citizen science dataset reveals its distribution from molecular traces (eDNA), Sci. Rep. 13, 2610 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27835-6
  5. EU. 2008. Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17th June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive). OJ L 164/19. Available at: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2008/56/oj
  6. EU. 2010. Commission Decision 2010/477/EU of 1 September 2010 on criteria and methodological standards on good environmental status of marine waters. Available at: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2010/477(2)/oj
  7. Cochrane S.K.J., Connor D.W., Nilsson P., Mitchell I., Reker J., Franco J., Valavanis V., Moncheva S., Ekebom J., Nygaard K., Serrão Santos R., Naberhaus I., Packeiser T., van de Bund W., Cardoso A.C. (2010) - Marine Strategy Framework Directive - Task Group 1 Report Biological diversity EUR 24337 EN. N. Zampoukas (Ed), Joint Report prepared between JRC and DG ENV. Luxembourg (Luxembourg): Publications Office of the European Union; 2010. JRC58101 https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC58101
  8. Hanzen E.L., Abrahms,B., Brodie,S., Carroll G., Jacox M.G., Savoca M.S., Scales K.L., Sydeman W.J., Bograd, S.J. (2019) - Marine top predators as climate and ecosystem sentinels. Front. Ecol. Environ. 17(10), 565–574 DOI: 10.3390/ani12192620
  9. Hanson N.N., Hall A.J. (2015) - Grey seal and harbour seal indicators for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Sea Mammal Research Unit report to Scottish Government. March 2015 DOI: 10.3390/d15060740
  10. Bundone L., Hernandez-Milian G., Hysolakoj N., Bakiu R., Mehillaj T., Lazaj L. (2021). Mediterranean monk seal in Albania: historical presence, sightings and habitat availability. J. Nat. Technic. Sci. 53, 89-100
  11. Bundone L., Hernandez-Milian G., Hysolakoj N., Bakiu R., Mehillaj T., Lazaj L., Deng H., Lusher A., Pojana G. (2022) - First documented uses of caves along the coast of Albania by Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus, Hermann 1779): Ecological and conservation inferences. Anim. 12(19), 2620
  12. Bundone L., Rizzo L., Fai S., Hernandez-Milian G., Guerzoni S., Molinaroli E. (2023) - Investigating rare and endangered species: when a single methodology is not enough-The Mediterranean monk seal along the coast Salento (South Apulia, Italy). Divers. 15(6), 740
  13. Jacobs J., Panou A. (1988) - Conservation of the Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus, in Kefalonia, Ithaka, and Lefkada Isl., Ionian Sea, Greece. Report to the Institut Royale des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, Project A.C.E. 6611/28
  14. Panou A., Varda D., Bundone L. (2017) - The Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus, in Montenegro. V. Pešić (Ed), Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium of Ecologist, 4-7 October 2017, Sutomore, Montenegro, pp.94-101
  15. Panou A., Giannoulaki M., Varda D., Lazaj L., Pojana G., Bundone L. (2023) - Towards a strategy for the recovering of the Mediterranean monk seal in the Adriatic-Ionian Basin. Front. Mar. Sci. 10, 1034124
  16. Jacobs J., Panou A. (1996) - Conservation programme for the Ionian: Activity 1: Kefalonia & Ithaca. WWF Project GR0034.01. Institute of Zoology, University of Munich, Germany. Final Report, Munich, February 1996
  17. Panou A. (2009) - Monk seal sightings in the central Ionian Sea - A network of fishermen for the protection of the marine resources. Workshop «Who are our seals? Moving towards a standardised population estimate approach for Monachus monachus», February 28th, Istanbul, Turkey, 2009 within the framework of the 23rd Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. Istanbul, Turkey 2-4 March 2009
  18. Panou A., Jacobs J., Panos D. (1993) - The endangered Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus, in the Ionian Sea, Greece. Biol. Conserv. 64(2), 129-140 DOI: 10.1016/0006-3207(93)90649-L
  19. Panou A., Mačić V., Bundone L., Varda D., Pavićević M. (2019) – Rare and endangered species along Montenegro/s coastline and the urgent need for their protection. Intern. Conference: Adriatic Biodiversity Protection, 7-10 April, Kotor, Montenegro, 71
  20. Bundone L., Antolovic J., Coppola E., Zalac S., Hervat M., Antolovic N., Molinaroli E. (2013) - Habitat use, movement and sightings of monk seals in Croatia between 2010 and 2012-2013. Rapport de la Commission internationale pour l'exploration scientifique de la Mer Médititerranée, 40, 608
  21. Bundone L., Fai S., Molinaroli, E. (2018) - First video documented presence of Mediterranean monk seal in Southern Apulia (Italy). Abstract Book, 32nd Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. La Spezia, Italy, 6-10 April 2018, 145
  22. Panou A., Aravantinos P., Kokkolis T., Kourkoulakos S., Lekatsa T., Minetou L., Panos D., Pirounakis K., Scalvos E. (2002) - The Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus, in the Central Ionian Sea, Greece: results of a long-term study. Abstract, 9th International Congress on the Zoogeography and Ecology of Greece and Adjacent Regions, Thessaloniki 22-25 May 2022, p. 118
  23. Jacobs J., Panou A., Vlachoutsikou A. (1991) - Zakynthos expansion Project. WWF Project 3871 Greece Monk Seal conservation in the Eastern Mediterranean. Institute of Zoology, University of Munich, Germany. Project Progress Report. Munich
  24. Panou A., Anestis A., Ioannou G., Karavellas D.P., Liontou E., Potamitis A., Ries E.H., Voutsinas N., Vlachoutsikou A. (2002) - Zakynthos island, Ionian Sea,Greece: An important habitat for the Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus. Abstract, 9th International Congress on the Zoogeography and Ecology of Greece and Adjacent Regions, Thessaloniki 22-25 May 2022, p. 119
  25. Archipelagos. (1999) - Conservation of the Monk Seal in Zakynthos. Compiled by A. Panou, Final Report, sub-project WWF Greece within the framework of the EU programme The Mediterranean Monk Seal in Greece: Conservation in Action LIFE96NAT/GR/3225, contract B4-3200/96/500
  26. Archipelagos. (2023) - Continuation of monitoring monk seal habitat use in north Corfu. Compiled by A. Panou, Final report to the Ionian Environment Foundation (NGO)
  27. Bundone L., Fai S., D'Ambrosio P., Onorato R., Minonne F., Molinaroli E. (2014) - Disponibilità di habitat per la foca monaca mediterranea (Monachus monachus) nel Salento: risultati preliminari. Biol. Mar. Mediterr. 21, 253-254
  28. Mačić V., Panou A., Bundone L., Varda D., Pavićević M. (2019) - First Inventory of the Semi-Submerged Marine Caves in South Dinarides Karst (Adriatic Coast) and Preliminary List of Species. Turk. J. Fish. Aquat. Sc. 19(9), 765-774 DOI: 10.4194/1303-2712-v19_9_05
  29. Jacobs J., Panou A., Vlachoutsikou A. (1990) - Special report on activities in Zakynthos Island, Ionian Sea, Greece. WWF Project 3871 Greece Monk Seal conservation in the Eastern Mediterranean. Project Progress Report. Institute of Zoology, University of Munich, Germany. Munich
  30. Solanou M., Panou A., Maina I., Kavadas S., Giannoulaki M. (2024) - Ten Years of Mediterranean Monk Seal Stranding Records in Greece under the Microscope: What Do the Data Suggest? Anim. 14(9), 1309 DOI: 10.3390/ani14091309
  31. Bundone L., Hernandez-Milian G., Antolovic J., Coppola E., Zalac S., Hervat M., Molinaroli E. (2015) - Insight on the foraging ecology of the Mediterranean monk seal. Abstract Book, 29th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society; St Julian’s Bay, Malta. 23–25 March 2015, 144
  32. Hernandez-Milian G., Tsangaris C., Anestis A., Fossi M.C., Baini M., Caliani I., Panti C., Bundone L., Panou A. (2023) - Monk seal faeces as a non-invasive technique to monitor the incidence of ingested microplastics and potential presence of plastic additives. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 193, 115227 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115227
  33. Lynam C.P., Uusitalo L., Patrício J., Piroddi C., Queirós A.M., Teixeira H., Rossberg A.G., Sagarminaga Y., Hyder K., Niquil N., Möllmann C., Wilson C., Chust G., Galparsoro I., Forster R., Veríssimo H., Tedesco L., Revilla M., Neville S. (2016) - Uses of innovative modeling tools within the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Front. Mar. Sci. 3, 182 DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2016.00182
  34. Gago J., Galgani F., Maes T., Thompson R.C. (2016) - Microplastics in Seawater: Recommendations from the Marine Strategy Framework Directive Implemenation Process. Front. Mar. Sci. 3:129 DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2016.00219
PDF
  • Publication Year: 2024
  • Pages: 92-100

XML
  • Publication Year: 2024

Chapter Information

Chapter Title

Monitoring the mediterranean monk seal in the Central Mediterean Sea

Authors

Luigi Bundone, Aliki Panou, Gema Hernandez-Milian, Giulio Pojana

Language

Italian

DOI

10.36253/979-12-215-0556-6.07

Peer Reviewed

Publication Year

2024

Copyright Information

© 2024 Author(s)

Content License

CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Metadata License

CC0 1.0

Bibliographic Information

Book Title

Tenth International Symposium Monitoring of Mediterranean Coastal Areas: Problems and Measurement Techniques

Book Subtitle

Livorno (Italy) 11th-13th June 2024

Editors

Laura Bonora, Marcantonio Catelani, Matteo De Vincenzi, Giorgio Matteucci

Peer Reviewed

Publication Year

2024

Copyright Information

© 2024 Author(s)

Content License

CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Metadata License

CC0 1.0

Publisher Name

Firenze University Press

DOI

10.36253/979-12-215-0556-6

eISBN (pdf)

979-12-215-0556-6

eISBN (xml)

979-12-215-0557-3

Series Title

Monitoring of Mediterranean Coastal Areas: Problems and Measurement Techniques

Series E-ISSN

2975-0288

0

Fulltext
downloads

0

Views

Export Citation

1,374

Open Access Books

in the Catalogue

2,545

Book Chapters

4,035,911

Fulltext
downloads

4,923

Authors

from 1036 Research Institutions

of 66 Nations

70

scientific boards

from 375 Research Institutions

of 44 Nations

1,258

Referees

from 383 Research Institutions

of 38 Nations