Marine mammal strandings and environmental changes: a 15-year study in the St. Lawrence ecosystem.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the effects of climatic variability on marine mammals is challenging due to the complexity of ecological interactions. We used general linear models to analyze a 15-year database documenting marine mammal strandings (1994-2008; n = 1,193) and nine environmental parameters known to affect marine mammal survival, from regional (sea ice) to continental scales (North Atlantic Oscillation, NAO). Stranding events were more frequent during summer and fall than other seasons, and have increased since 1994. Poor ice conditions observed during the same period may have affected marine mammals either directly, by modulating the availability of habitat for feeding and breeding activities, or indirectly, through changes in water conditions and marine productivity (krill abundance). For mos

SUBMITTER: Truchon MH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3609766 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature