González, L. (2018): Spatio-temporal distribution of the order Cetacea in the Azores: relationship between biotic and abiotic variables

Explore groundbreaking research on cetacean distribution in the Azores, uncovering secrets about habitat preferences and behaviors, led by Laura Gonzalez’s pioneering work.

Objective

Study the temporal distribution and habitat preferences of cetaceans sighted off São Miguel Island

As secondary goals, this study aims to (1) provide a detailed oceanographic view of the Azores and particularly around São Miguel; (2) improve the available baseline information about temporal and spatial distribution of the cetacean species sighted around São Miguel; (3) analyse habitat preferences of blue, fin and sei whales sighted around São Miguel; (3) prove the validity of whale watching opportunistic data to assess cetacean distribution and ecology; (4) identify new topics of potential interest to continue with the thesis line of research in a nearby future.

Impact

It has been improved the baseline cetacean information data around São Miguel Island with 20 different species of cetaceans reported between 2008 and 2014

The oceanography of the region exhibits seasonal patterns, impacting species richness and diversity. Furthermore, the research underscores the significance of multiscale analyses in understanding species distribution and highlights the value of whale-watching data for studying cetacean ecology and distribution. The thesis also suggests future research directions, such as investigating baleen whale feeding ecology, diving behavior, and photo-identification for social structure studies, while emphasizing the success of the Sail & Whale project as a sustainable and collaborative data collection initiative.

Supported UN Global Goals

Laura Gonzalez’s PhD thesis represents a significant synergy between her work as a marine biologist and whale-watching guide at Futurismo and our commitment to advancing Sustainable Development Goal 14, “Life Below Water.” During her tenure with us, Laura was uniquely positioned to gather invaluable firsthand data on cetacean behavior and distribution in the Azores. Her research not only expanded our understanding of these magnificent creatures but also underscored the importance of sustainable practices in marine tourism.

By leveraging her research findings, we continued to refine our practices, minimizing disturbances to cetaceans and their habitats while delivering enriching experiences to tourists.