CE14002 Cetacean on the Frontier 5 Survey

Night time work will be CTD's, plankton sampling as well as PAM for cetaceans. It will cover the cruise track over that covered during visual observations during daylight hours. To characterise the preferred habitat of bottlenose dolphins in offshore waters by relating animal densities (relative abundance) to important habitat covariates (depth, distance from shelf edge and various oceanographic variables) using zero-inflated and generalised linear modelling techniques. To conduct double platform, absolute abundance survey of cetaceans in key habitats on the slopes and canyon systems of the Porcupine Bank and shelf edge system, primarily targeting offshore bottlenose dolphins and baleen whales. To conduct a habitat-focused, acoustic survey of cetacean distribution and relative abundance in key habitats all species using both low and high frequency acquisition systems (two towed hydrophone arrays) in the Porcupine Bank, Sea Bight and shelf edge. To deploy static acoustic monitoring (SAM) devices (C-PODs) on acoustic release systems on the slopes of the Porcupine Bank and Seabight to enable static monitoring of four sites over the survey duration. If and when appropriate, to deploy a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) to obtain biopsy samples and photo-identification images of bottlenose dolphins and baleen whales from rarely accessible offshore habitat. To conduct a survey of seabird species and abundance according to ESAS methods in offshore waters over slope habitats of the Porcupine Bank, Sea Bight and shelf edge. To sample Mauve Stinger jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca for stable isotope analysis and to investigate the prevalence of the bacterium Tenacibaculum maritimum. To sample phytoplankton and zooplankton (including Euphausiids). To collect photo-identification data of bottlenose dolphins and baleen whales to facilitate ongoing longitudinal studies (e.g. IWDG photo ID catalogue).