Investigating Rare and Endangered Species: When a Single Methodology Is Not Enough—The Mediterranean Monk Seal Monachus monachus along the Coast of Salento (South Apulia, Italy)

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

I would like to congrats the authors for their work which I found very well designed and essential for the monitoring and conservation of such elusive species.

Despite the study period is between 2013 and 2015, It would be appropriate to include some recent literature as follows.

Line 82-87 and line 349-351: It would be convenient to include one of the most recent manuscripts about this topic: Pietroluongo et al. 2022:

Pietroluongo, G.; Martín-Montalvo, B.Q.; Ashok, K.; Miliou, A.; Fosberry, J.; Antichi, S.; Moscatelli, S.; Tsimpidis, T.; Carlucci, R.; Azzolin, M. Combining Monitoring Approaches as a Tool to Assess the Occurrence of the Mediterranean Monk Seal in Samos Island, Greece. Hydrobiology 2022, 1, 440-450. https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrobiology1040026

Line 310: It would be interesting to include the picture described in the text.

Finally, in the discussion, it could be included another recent manuscript which is reporting the presence of MMS in the study area: Petrella et al. 2021:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33754995/

I would recommend reviewing the final manuscript according to the suggestions in order to offer a complete overview that includes the most recent literature and findings despite the study period.

Many thanks and congratulations on this work.

 

Author Response

We would like to thank the reviewer for the suggestions provided and for the positive acceptance of our manuscript.

Below are the answers to the questions in order to improve the introduction, the discussion, and adds of recent literature references:

- Q1: It would be appropriate to include some recent literature as follows.

Line 82-87 and line 349-351 Pietroluongo et al. 2022

A1: Lines on the literature proposed have been added as follows:

Lines 82-87 Pietroluongo et al. 2022 was added as quoted literature

Lines 349-351: combining multiple methods to investigate the occurrence of this Mediterranean monk seal was, more recently, also followed by Pietroluongo et al. (2022). Demonstrating, similarly to our study that, an integrated approach, can effectively increase the data and support filling knowledge gaps on the matter.

- Q2: It would be interesting to include the picture described in the text.

A2: The picture, and two additional ones, have been included with the following label: “Figure 3. (a) Stuffed individual captured in Otranto in 1915; (b) the skull of the seal captured in Gallipoli, and (b) the skin of the one entangled in a net in Castro in 1965. See also table 4 (photo credits: (a) and (b) Luigi Bundone, (c) courtesy of Mario Molendini).”

References to the figure were added in the text accordingly.

Consequently, the successive picture was re-labeled as Figure 4.

Q3: In the discussion, it could be included another recent manuscript which is reporting the presence of MMS in the study area: Petrella et al. 2021.

A3: The text proposed has been included (line 398).

Reviewer 2 Report

Very well written and designed experiment that point out the limitations of the data. I liked that data was gathered from various sources and combined after the data was scrubbed and deemed compatible.
The authors point out that the lack of sightings and knowledge about the Mediterranean monk seal may not be due to their absence but rather the lack of monitoring effort.
I would have liked to have seen more discussion about the status of the MMS in the other areas that may now be spilling into the study area as suggested here “ In this framework we cannot completely exclude that the recent sightings might de-pend on the slight increment of the overall population of the MMS recorded elsewhere [8], which possibly has pushed individuals to spread in search of new areas.”. Some analyses here with statistics and correlations of trends between the number of MMS found in the study area and in the core population areas would strengthen the paper and the authors acknowledge this “Our recent data need to be gathered with the sightings reported over the same period 419 from Croatia, Montenegro and Albania [29,68,104-107], and the known breeding sub-pop-ulation in the Greek Ionian Islands [e.g., 12,18,84].” Perhaps that is intended for another ms? Im not sure why it isn’t reported here. Overall a great paper.

Author Response

Q1: Some analyses here with statistics and correlations of trends between the number of MMS found in the study area and in the core population areas would strengthen the paper and the authors acknowledge this “Our recent data need to be gathered with the sightings reported over the same period from Croatia, Montenegro and Albania [29,68,104-107], and the known breeding sub-population in the Greek Ionian Islands [e.g., 12,18,84].” Perhaps that is intended for another ms? Im not sure why it isn’t reported here.

A1: We have greatly appreciated the commentary of the Reviewer and we agreed with the comments on more correlations from other areas.

There are no effective data on trends (lack of statistics and numbers) of MMS found in the study area and in the core population areas.

The first studies not based on estimations but on effective individual counting and actual population numbers are now in due course for the Central Ionian population by the first author. Several other studies were conducted by the same author in all of the surrounding countries and have already been published. These publications include also general overviews of the main Adriatic-Ionian Region and the whole Mediterranean.

Therefore, we thought that expanding this aspect will be redundant, however if the reviewer thought otherwise, we will.

Following you can see the entire literature published and communicated on the matter, most of which, whenever necessary, are already quoted in the present manuscript:

• Sightings in the Mediterranean:

Bundone, L.; Panou, A.; Molinaroli, E. On sightings of (vagrants?) monk seals, Monachus monachus, in the Mediterranean Basin and their importance for the conservation of the species. Aquat Conserv: Mar Freshw Ecosyst 2019, 29, 554-563. Cited in the manuscript

Bundone, L. Panou, A. Molinaroli, E. 2013. Re-evaluating the actual distribution range of the Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus. Abstract Book. 27^th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. Setúbal, Portugal, 8-10 April 2013: 104

• Sightings in Croatia

Bundone, L.; Antolovic, J.; Coppola, E.; Zalac, S.; Hervat, M.; Antolovic, N.; Molinaroli, E. Habitat use, movement and sightings of monk seals in Croatia between 2010 and 2012-2013. Rapp Comm int Mer Médit 2013, 40, 608. Cited in the manuscript

Antolovic, J. Coppola, E. Zalac, S. Bundone, L. Hervat, M. Antolovic, N. 2012. Following of Mediterranean monk seal in the North Adriatic Caves via cameras and analysis of observations in the period from 2009 to 2012. Proceedings of Abstracts of the 11th Croatian Biological Congress. Sibenk, Croatia 16-21 September: 210-211

• Sightings in Montenegro

Panou, A.; Varda, D.; Bundone, L. The Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus, in Montenegro. In Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium of Ecologists, Sutomore, Montenegro, 4-7 October 2017; 94-101. Cited in the manuscript

Mačić, V. Panou, A. Bundone, L. Varda, D. Pavievic, M. 2019. First inventory of the semi- submerged marine caves in South Dinarides Karst (Adriatic coast) and preliminary list of species. Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, 19(9): 765-774

Mačić, V. Panou, A. Bundone, L. Varda, D. 2014. Contribution to the knowledge of rare and endangered habitat-marine caves (Montenegro, South East Adriatic coast). Proceedings of the 1st Symposium on the Conservation of Dark Habitats. Portoroz, Slovenia 31 October 2014: 73-74

Panou, A. Mačić, V. Bundone, L. Varda, D. Pavićević, M. 2019. Rare and endangered species along Montenegro’s coastline and the urgent need for their protection. Book of Abstract of the International Conference Adriatic Biodiversity Protection-AdriBioPro2019. Institute of Marine Biology, University of Montenegro. 7-10 April 2019, Kotor, Montenegro: 71

Panou, A. Bundone, L. Varda, D. Mačić, V. 2014. Habitat availability for the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) in Montenegro. Abstract Book. 28^th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society. Liège, Belgium, 5-9 April 2014: 205

• Sightings in Albania

Bundone, L. Hernandez-Milian, G. Hysolakoj, N. Bakiu, R. Mehillaj, T. Lazaj, L. 2021 Mediterranean monk seal in Albania: historical presence, sightings and habitat availability. Book of Abstract. 1^st International Conference on Water Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development WEPSD-2021. 17-18 May 2021, Tirana, Albania: 21

Bundone, L.; Hernandez-Milian, G.; Hysolakoj, N.; Bakiu, R.; Mehillaj, T.; Lazaj, L. Mediterranean monk seal in Albania: historical presence, sightings and habitat availability. JNTS 2021, 53, 89-100. Cited in the manuscript

Bundone, L. Hernandez-Milian, G. Hysolakoj, N. Bakiu, R. Mehillaj, T. Lazaj, L. Lusher, A. Pojana, G. 2022. First documented use of caves along the coast of Albania by Mediterranean monk seals. Ecological and conservation inferences. In Abstract Book, 24^th Biennial Conferences on the Biology of Marine Mammals. Palm Beach, Florida, USA, 1-5 August 2022: 240

Bundone, L.; Hernandez-Milian, G.; Hysolakoj, N.; Bakiu, R.; Mehillaj, T.; Lazaj, L.; Deng, H.; Lusher, A.; Pojana, G. First documented uses of caves along the coast of Albania by Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus, Hermann 1779): ecological and conservation inferences. Animals 2022, 12, 2620. Cited in the manuscript

• Overview of the Adriatic Region

Panou, A.; Giannoulaki, M.; Varda, D.; Lazaj, L.; Pojana, G.; Bundone, L. Towards a strategy for the recovering of the Mediterranean monk seal in the Adriatic-Ionian Basin. Front Mar Sci 2023. 10, 1034124. Cited in the manuscript

Bundone, L.; Panou, A.; Kokkolis, T.; Aravantinos, P.; Hysolakoj, N.; Mehillaj, T.; Bakiu, R. Coordinated monitoring of the Mediterranean monk seal among MPAs in the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region. In Managing highly mobile species across Mediterranean MPAs, MedPAN Network Regional Experience-Sharing Proceeding of the Workshop, Akyaka, Turkey, 11-14 November 2019; 33. Cited in the manuscript

• Mediterranean monk seal population inhabiting the Central Ionian Sea (Greece)

Panou, A.; Aravantinos, P.; Kokkolis, T.; Chaldas, X.; Bundone, L. 2023. Preliminary findings on the use of caves by Mediterranean monk seals, Ionian Sea, Greece. In Abstract Book of the 34^th Conference of the European Cetacean Society,  O’Grove, Spain, 16-20 April 2023 : 218

Bundone, L.; PaNOU, A. 2023. Photo-identification catalogue for Mediterranean monk seals – a functional methodology. In Abstract Book of the 34^th Conference of the European Cetacean Society,  O’Grove, Spain, 16-20 April 2023 : 316

Bundone, L.; Panou, A. Improvement of knowledge on the Mediterranean monk seal sub-population in the central Ionian Sea, Greece, using photo-identification. In Abstract Book of the 33^rd Conference of the European Cetacean Society, Ashdod, Israel, 5-7 April 2022; 106. Cited in the manuscript

Panou, A.; Bundone, L.; Aravantinos, P. Mediterranean monk seal habitat use in the Central Ionian, Greece. In Abstract Book of the World Marine Mammal Conference, Barcelona, Spain, 7-12 December 2019; 327. Cited in the manuscript

Bundone, L.; Panou, A.; Aravantinos, P.; Muñoz-Cañas, M. Photo-identification of the Mediterranean monk seal sub-population in the central Ionian Sea, Greece. In Abstract Book of the World Marine Mammal Conference, Barcelona, Spain, 7-12 December 2019;106. Cited in the manuscript

Panou, A.; Bundone, L.; Aravantinos, P.; Kokkolis, T.; Chaldas, X. Mediterranean monk seal, a sign of hope: increased birth numbers and enlarged terrestrial habitat. In Abstract Book of the 33^rd Conference of the European Cetacean Society, Ashdod, Israel, 5-7 April 2022; 95. Cited in the manuscript

Panou, A.; Bundone, L.; Aravantinos, P.; Kokkolis, T. Mediterranean monk seal monitoring in the central Ionian Sea, Greece-35 Years of Studies. In Abstract Book of the 24^th Biennial Conferences on the Biology of Marine Mammals. Palm Beach, Florida, USA, 1-5 August 2022; 344. Cited in the manuscript

Reviewer 3 Report

Authors use three methods for constructing a historical assessment of [non-breeding] occurrences of Mediterranean monk seal in the Salenta region of Italy. Believed to be among the rarest of all the world's pinnipeds, with only ~700 individuals in all the total population, this seal is generally considered extirpated in that portion of the Mediterranean. In addition to documenting a very elusive species, this manuscript reveals some surprising findings, including that some artisanal and/or commercial fishers may be less overtly hostile to the seal than might sometimes be assumed.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Minor editing will be helpful in improving the English usage. I have made several notations directly on the manuscript as to where some of these clarifications can occur.

Author Response

Our thanks go to the appreciation expressed by the reviewer on our manuscripts, and for the comments to improve its contents, particularly on the enhancements of the results’ presentation.

All the suggestions/corrections to improve the English usage were accepted and integrated into the text, also the notations on the manuscript were followed.

We understand that the term nuclei might be open to misleading interpretation, however, instead of the suggested words “sites” and “centers” (lines 21, 78, and 88) we think that the term “populations” or “sub-populations” accordingly, might better fit and explain the concept.

The numbering of citations has been reviewed accurately and does correspond to the list.