Harbour Porpoises Phocoena phocoena in the Eastern Scheldt: A Resident Stock or Trapped by a Storm Surge Barrier?

摘要: Coastal protection measures are planned and executed worldwide to combat the effects of global warming climate change, in particular acceleration sea level rise, higher storm surge flooding extensive coastal inundation. The extent which these defensive may impact estuarine ecosystems is still poorly understood. Since building a barrier, movement harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena out Eastern Scheldt tidal bay (SW-Netherlands) be limited. To measure residency, stranded along Dutch North Sea coast between 2006 2008 were sampled for muscle (n = 102) bone tissue 118), 9 (8.8%) 12 samples (10.2%) collected from animals within Scheldt. Stable carbon (d13C) was analysed get insight into habitat use residency Our data showed significantly d13C values (µ -17.7‰, SD 0.4‰) compared -18.3‰, 0.5‰). This suggests that most foraged there longer period. distinct signature not observed tissue, suggesting relatively recent shift rather than life-long high number strandings mortality rate zone. study indicates with other changes physical environment, barrier play an important role determining Scheldt, area might act as ecological trap entering it.