Rare interspecific interaction between common dolphin<i> (Delphinus</i><i> delphis)</i> and harbor porpoise<i> (Phocoena</i><i> phocoena)</i> calf in the Southern Black Sea
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE, cilt.102, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 102
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.rsma.2026.105371
- Dergi Adı: REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Zoological Record
- İstanbul Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) are often faced with aggressive interactions with other cetacean species, especially delphinids, but there are very few cases of affiliative interactions. In this study, we report an opportunistic observation of a harbor porpoise calf interacting with a group of adult common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) during a routine vessel-based survey in the southeastern Black Sea in the summer of 2025. The observation involves the calf swimming with an adult common dolphin in an echelon position, typically seen in mother-calf pairs, and attempting to maintain this position. Although this observation may represent a rare non-agonistic interspecific association, its short duration prevents firm conclusions about the nature of the interaction. We discuss possible affiliative and agonistic interpretations and place the observation within the broader ecological context of harbor porpoise conservation in the Black Sea.