Research
AIMM’s work is fundamentally based on the research of the marine environment, with particular emphasis on marine megafauna, such as cetaceans, turtles and sharks. Every day we go out to sea (whenever the sea conditions allow) in order to collect data on the different species of marine megafauna that occur in the Algarve. These data and scientific results are intended to support the increase in knowledge of the species and actively contribute to the implementation of management and conservation measures.
Research projects
The use of drones to evaluate whether dolphin calves may become separated from their mothers during tuna purse seine fishing operations in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean.
Mother-calf separations might be one of the reasons why the spinner dolphin and pantropical spotted dolphin populations may not have increased as projected and are still considered depleted under the United States’ Marine Mammal Protection Act. AIMM in collaboration with the University of Alaska Southeast were contracted by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, to evaluate whether dolphin calves may become separated from their mothers during tuna purse seine fishing operations in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP).
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The use of acoustic signalling and the assessment of interspecific acoustic divergence and convergence in the repertoires of bottlenose and common dolphin populations in southern Portugal.
Claudia Erber, a student from ISPA, is doing her PhD project on bioacoustics in collaboration with AIMM. This is a project that aims to study the use of acoustic signalling and assess interspecific acoustic divergence and convergence in the repertoires of bottlenose and common dolphin populations in southern Portugal. Through a comparative approach, new insights will be revealed regarding the influence of social and environmental factors on these two delphinid species that may contribute to dolphin’ population segregation in Portugal.
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Surveillance and monitoring of marine megafauna in coastal waters off the Algarve, Portugal.
The distribution and population dynamics of marine megafauna, namely cetaceans, sea turtles and sharks, which inhabit southern Portugal are poorly known. Some of these species are top predators playing a crucial role in ecosystem balance. AIMM focuses most of its efforts, primarily, on researching the occurrence, distribution and abundance of cetaceans on the southern coast of Portugal.
This study allows us to know which species inhabit these waters, why and for what purpose. Thus allowing inferences about their conservation status and what potential threats they face.
The characterization and improvement of “Dolphin & Whale watching” tourist activities in the Algarve.
AIMM believes that ecotourism activities are fundamental to creating a relationship between Man and nature. However, this tourism has to be done in a very cautious and sustainable way, as it directly impacts wild populations. Marine megafauna species, particularly dolphins, are animals that attract a lot of attention from the general public, making them ambassadors for ocean conservation.
Thus, AIMM collaborates directly and actively with Algarve whale watching companies, helping to ensure that this activity meets the requirements and is effectively carried out in a sustainable and educational way for tourists.
The social organization and behavior of the different species of dolphins present in the Algarve.
Understanding the dynamics and social organization of different species allows us to better understand them and thus have information that allows for the creation of appropriate conservation measures for each of the different species. It is also essential for us to understand the basic ecology of these species.
The collection of marine megafauna ecology data and the potential effects of climate change.
Climate change and global warming are a great concern worldwide. Megafauna is also impacted by these changes, however the effects are not as immediate when compared to other taxa. Understanding how these environmental changes affect these species is essential for their conservation.
The study of cetaceans through acoustics.
Marine mammals rely on acoustics to communicate, navigate and explore their habitat. Acoustic studies with marine mammals allow us to understand how these animals use sound, but also allow us to detect them and locate them in their habitat. Given the advantages and complementarity with traditionally used visual methods, AIMM started to use acoustics in order to reinforce the study of the distribution and abundance of these animals in the southern region of Portugal.
Publications
Assessing the dynamics of common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) mother-calf pairs along the south coast of Portugal using unmanned aerial vehicles. Marine Mammal Science, e13115. (2024).
https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13115
First long-term study of live observations of loggerhead and leatherback turtles in southern Portugal with relevance for conservation. 𝘈𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘴, 1– 7. (2023).
https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3991
Evidence for the first multi-species shark nursery area in Atlantic Africa (Boa Vista Island, Cabo Verde). Frontiers in Marine Science. 10:1077748. (2023). https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1077748
Know moreEpimeletic behavior in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the south of Portugal: Underwater and aerial perspectives. Aquatic Mammals 48(6), 646-651. (2022). https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.48.6.2022.646
Know moreCommon dolphin (Delphinus delphis) fission–fusion dynamics in the south coast of Portugal. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 76(9), 128. (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-022-03235-0
Know moreMAMMALS IN PORTUGAL: A data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in Portugal.” Ecology 103(6): e3654. (2022). https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.3654
Know moreA new Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni) record for mainland Portugal. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 22(1), 75-80. (2021). https://doi.org/10.47536/jcrm.v22i1.333
Know moreAssessing the behavioural responses of small cetaceans to unmanned aerial vehicles. Remote Sensing 13(1), 156. (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13010156
Know moreOceanographic determinants of the abundance of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the south of Portugal. Oceans 1(3), 165-173. (2020). https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans1030012
Know moreSmooth hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna zygaena) observed off the Portuguese southern coast. Environmental Biology of Fishes 101(8), 1261-1268. (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-018-0773-8
Know moreCommunications
Habitat preference of Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) in the south coast of Portugal. 34th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. O Grove, Spain.
DownloadMark−recapture estimates of bottlenose dolphins on the south coast of Portugal. 34th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. O Grove, Spain.
DownloadCommon dolphin and bottlenose dolphin communication influenced by touristic vessels in the Algarve, Portugal. 34th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. O Grove, Spain.
DownloadInvestigating laterality and spatial associations in common dolphin mother-calf pairs using an unmanned aerial vehicle. 34th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. O Grove, Spain.
DownloadThe use of land-based surveys to monitor small cetaceans in the south coast of Portugal. 34th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. O Grove, Spain.
DownloadGrouping dynamics of mother-calf pairs of common dolphins in the South coast of Portugal. 34th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. O Grove, Spain.
Baleen whales in Southern Portugal: new insights. 29th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. Malta.
DownloadCetaceans in the extension of the Natura 2000 to the marine environment in Portugal – The M@rBis Project. 29th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. Malta.
Potential effects of whale watching on common dolphins in the South coast of mainland Portugal. 28th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. Liège, Belgium.
DownloadCetacean monitoring in the South Coast of mainland Portugal. 20th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. Dunedin, New Zealand.
DownloadThe bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in Southern Portugal (Southwestern Europe). 20th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. Dunedin, New Zealand.
DownloadPotential impacts of artisanal fisheries on the bottlenose dolphin population of the Sado estuary, Portugal. 27th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. Setúbal, Portugal.
Algarve region as a potential breeding ground for common dolphins in Portugal. 27th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. Setúbal, Portugal.
Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) response to boating pressure in the south coast of Portugal. 26th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. Galway, Ireland.
DownloadWhale watching profitability assessment in mainland Portugal. 26th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. Galway, Ireland.
DownloadOccurrence of a lone juvenile bottlenose dolphin in the Alvor estuary, Portugal. 26th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. Galway, Ireland.
DownloadRisso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) photo-identification catalogue in Southern Portugal. 19th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. Tampa, FL, USA.
DownloadDevelopment of a whale watching network in the South of Portugal. 19th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. Tampa, Florida, USA.
DownloadCetacean research network in the south of Portugal: establishing a low-cost and long-term monitoring programme. 25th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. Cadiz, Spain.
DownloadDistribution of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in the south of Portugal. 25th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. Cadiz, Spain.
DownloadAbundance and distribution of Risso’s dolphin in the Southwest Iberian Peninsula. 25th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. Cadiz, Spain.
DownloadFirst catalogue of Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) of Portugal. International Meeting on Marine Resources. Peniche, Portugal.
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