@article{fdi:010089563,
  title = {{W}ho lives in the open sea? {D}istribution and densities of surfacing marine megafauna in three subregions of the {S}outh {P}acific ({N}ew {C}aledonia, {W}allis and {F}utuna, and {F}rench {P}olynesia)},
  author = {{L}aran, {S}. and {V}an {C}anneyt, {O}. and {D}oremus, {G}. and {G}arrigue, {C}laire and {B}err, {T}ristan and {B}ourgogne, {H}ugo and {G}enu, {M}. and {S}pitz, {J}. and {R}idoux, {V}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{C}ontext {A}ssessing the distribution and abundance of marine fauna and the ecological status of coastal and pelagic ecosystems is key to biodiversity conservation, but the monitoring of mobile marine species raises multiple logistical and financial challenges. {A}ims {T}he project describes the distribution, abundance and taxonomic assemblage of several marine megafauna taxa in three subregions of the western and central {S}outh {P}acific {O}cean ({N}ew {C}aledonia, {W}allis and {F}utuna, and {F}rench {P}olynesia).{M}ethods {L}arge-scale aerial surveys were conducted using a standardised multi-taxon protocol, to characterise the occurrence and abundance of marine megafauna over 2.5 million km2. {A}nalysing more than 122 000 km of transects, the densities of 22 different taxa were estimated: seven taxonomic groups of marine mammals ({P}hyseteridae, {K}ogiidae, {Z}iphiidae, {G}lobicephalinae, {S}mall {D}elphininae, {L}arge {D}elphininae, and {D}ugongidae), a single group for hard-shelled sea turtles, three groups of elasmobranchs (including whale sharks), and 11 groups of seabirds (including {P}haethontidae, {H}ydrobatidae, {F}regatidae and {S}ulidae).{K}ey results {C}ontrasting patterns of species distribution were found. {M}arine mammal diversity increases north and west, with a distinct species assemblage in {N}ew {C}aledonia, compared to other subregions. {A} strong latitudinal gradient was observed across {F}rench {P}olynesia, independent of taxa.{C}onclusions {T}his study provides the first comparison of marine species assemblages across the three oceanic subregions and sets a regional baseline for the biogeography of marine megafauna in the region.{I}mplications {T}he taxonomic and spatial extension of the results opens up new perspectives for the development of local conservation measures, especially for taxa with already documented population declines. {T}his study simultaneously describes the spatial distribution and densities of 22 distinct taxonomic groups of marine mammals, sea turtles, elasmobranchs and seabirds over three large oceanic subregions of the western and central {S}outh {P}acific {O}cean. {I}t demonstrates the value of multi-taxa monitoring applied to aerial surveys of offshore marine megafauna, and provides a baseline for future conservation measures.{T}his article belongs to the {C}ollection {M}arine {M}ammals in the {P}acific.},
  keywords = {{OISEAU} {MARIN} ; {TORTUE} {AQUATIQUE} ; {MAMMIFERE} {MARIN} ; {MEGAFAUNE} ; {RELEVE} {AERIEN} ; aerial survey ; cetacean ; dugong ; elasmobranch ; marine mammal ; marine ; megafauna ; seabird ; sea turtle ; {S}outhwest {P}acific {O}cean ; {PACIFIQUE} ; {NOUVELLE} {CALEDONIE} ; {WALLIS} {ET} {FUTUNA} ; {POLYNESIE} {FRANCAISE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}acific {C}onservation {B}iology},
  volume = {30},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {{PC}23023 [22 p.]},
  ISSN = {1038-2097},
  year = {2024},
  DOI = {10.1071/pc23023},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010089563},
}