ArabScientist.org

Abstract

Until recently, the studies specifically targeting globally endangered Mediterranean monk seal in the Gulf of Iskenderun have been very scarce. The species, on the other hand, is sighted in the region. In order to clarify if the species still have a resident colony in the area, a research has been initiated in August 2003. In the first phase of the research, the coastline between Karatas (Adana) and Turkey-Syria Border was surveyed in October 2003. The 29 caves fulfilling breeding or resting requirements of the species explored and classified according to the level and type of seal activities taking place. Although the survey has been specifically conducted at the end of the defined breeding season of the species in the eastern Mediterranean, no seal pup or any evidence of whelping could be found. In an attempt to monitor further seal activities, the caves having at least a resting platform were then installed with a digital camera triggered with an infrared sensor.

Local people, especially seamen, professional and leisure fishermen were interviewed during the survey to collect information related to seal and their movements in the area. The first and very preliminary findings indicate that the seals sighted in the area are the members of a remote colony and, due to yet unknown reasons, forced to undergo long distance movements.

The sighting reported during and after the field survey and the old sightings reported from Cyprus and Syria encourage us to draw intuitive migration scenario for the species. The project is now testing the hypothesis that the core of the Mediterranean monk seal colony in the eastern Mediterranean is based in the Cilician coast and a part of the colony migrate along the triangle between coast of Turkey, Cyprus and Syria.

Key words: Mediterranean monk seal, migration, northeastern Mediterranean

New Publications

The Arab Scientists in Cooperation with The High Institute of Marine Research. Publish all the researches abstracts, which presented in The Regional Workshop on Marine Sciences and Natural Resources, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria, 25-26 May 2004.

New Publications

The Arab Scientists in Cooperation with The Egyptian Society for Biological Control of Pests . Publish all the researches abstracts, which presented in The First Arab Conference of Applied Biological Pest Control, Cairo, Egypt, 5-7 April 2004.

Conferences, Fez

The First International Symposium on Environnement protection for development Biotechnological aspects. Fez, December
15 – 17, 2004.

Conferences, Syria

The Second Syrian-Egyptian conference in the Agriculture and Food. Agriculture Faculty, Al-Baath university, Homs, Syria. 25-28 April, 05

Conference,Yemen

Current Status of Plant Protection in Yemen and Future Strategy. Faculty of Agriculture, Sana'a University, Sana'a, yemen. December 18-20/2004

Conferences Canada

The 9th International Conference of the Orthopterists’ Society Canada, on August 14 19, 2005

Conferences, Egypt

The First Arab Conference on Applications of Biological Control of Pests in Arab Countries

Workshop,Lebanon

New Workshop Middle-East Academy for Medicine of Ageing First Annual Middle-East Age & Aging Meeting 8-11 April, 2004

Publications

Arab Society for Plant Protection (ASPP) in Cooperation with The Arab Scientists
Publish all the researches abstracts, which presented in the Eighth Arab Congress of Plant Protection, held in Faculty of Agriculture, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, El-beida City, Libya, October 12-16,2003

The Monk Seal (Monachus monachus HERMANN, 1779) in the Northeastern Mediterranean

Abstract