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Senigaglia, V., F., Christiansen, L., Bejder, D., Gendron, D., Lundquist, D., Noren, A., Schaffar, J.C., Smith, R., Williams & D., Lusseau (2013). Meta-analyses of whalewatching impact studies: differences and similarities in disturbance responses among species. 20th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. Dunedin, New Zealand, Nueva Zelanda, diciembre 9 - 15, 2013, 1.

Meta-analyses of whalewatching impact studies: differences and similarities in disturbance responses among species

V. Senigaglia, F. Christiansen, L. Bejder, Diane Gendron, D. Lundquist, D. Noren, A. Schaffar, J.C. Smith, R. Williams y D. Lusseau

Whalewatching activities are known to induce behavioural changes that are compatible with anti-predatory responses. However anti-predatory responses can vary depending on the species, population and/or site-specific environmental features. This variability makes challenging to evaluate whalewatching disturbance and multiple metrics should be utilized in evaluating whalewatching disturbance.In this study we used meta-analyses to assess the consistency of anti-predatory responses among several studies on whalewatching disturbance. We used changes in swimming speed, activity budget, inter-breath intervals, and deviation and directness index as proxies to measure whalewatching disturbance. We also assessed if these changes were due to extrinsic factors (as the presence of whale watching regulations), intrinsic factors (species and animal body size) or environmental factors (habitat type).Our results showed that changes in the activity budget and directness and deviation index were the most consistent and reliable to capture cetacean responses.Animals were more likely to travel and less likely to rest or forage (Q7=81.2, p<0.0001, k=8; Q5=23.2, p=0.0003, k= 7; Q7=49.5, p<0.0001, k=8) as a consequence of whalewatching presence. Also body size had an effect on resting activity with smaller animals being less likely to rest in the presence of boats (Q1=4.1, p=0.04, k=7). Our results showed a generalized tendency of cetacean to increase their path sinuosity (deviation index) and decrease path linearity (directness index) in response to whalewatching disturbance (Q= 24.6, p= <0.0001, ?2=0.09, k=5; Q= 8.94; p= 0.03, ?2=0.05, k=5). Path linearity and predictability also increased in corridor type habitats (SMD=1.55; p=0.004, k=5). These behavioural changes reflect greater direct energy expenditure and fewer opportunities for energy recovery respectively and may cause long-term consequences to population fitness.In conclusion, we found that overall cetaceans showed similar anti-predatory responses to whalewatching activities and we highlighted the validity of a meta-analytical approach to study anthropogenic disturbance.

Palabras clave: Coryphaena hippurus; Impact; whale watching; meta analysis

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