Distribution of megafaunal species in the Southwestern Atlantic: Key ecological areas and opportunities for marine conservation
- González Carman, Victoria
- Mandiola, María Agustina
- Alemany, Daniela
- Dassis, Mariela
- Seco Pon, Juan Pablo
- Prosdocimi, Laura
- Ponce de Leon, Andres Hector
- Mianzan, Hermes Walter
- Acha, Eduardo Marcelo
- Rodriguez, Diego Horacio
- Favero, Marco
- Copello, Sofía
DOIAbstract
During the last centuries, populations of marine megafauna - such as seabirds, turtles, and mammals - were intensively exploited. At present, other threats such as bycatch and pollution affect these species, which play key ecological roles in marine ecosystems as apex consumers and/or nutrient transporters. This study analyses the distribution of six megafaunal species (Chelonia mydas, Caretta caretta, Dermochelys coriacea, Thalassarche melanophris, Otaria flavescens, and Arctocephalus australis) coexisting in the Southwestern Atlantic to discuss their protection in terms of current management strategies in the region. Through the prediction of the species potential distributions and their relation to bathymetry, sea temperature and oceanog...
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