Surveys carried out to the north and west of Scotland have recorded 15 spec
ies of cetacean between 1979 and 1998. These were fin whale (Balaenoptera p
hysalus), sei whale (B. borealis), minke whale (B. acutorostrata), humpback
whale (Megaptera novaeangline), sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), nort
hern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus), Sowerby's beaked whale (Meso
plodon bidens), killer whale (Orcinus orca), long- finned pilot whale (Glob
icephala melas), Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus), whit
e-beaked dolphin (L. albirostris), Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), bottl
enose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and
harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Atlantic white-sided dolphin was the
most abundant species in the region with a total of 6317 animals recorded.
Harbour porpoise was the most frequently sighted cetacean species. The geog
raphical distribution of sightings indicate that cetacean species have vary
ing ecological requirements, with species such as sperm whale, pilot whale
and white-sided dolphin favouring deep water off the continental shelf edge
, while minke whale, white-beaked dolphin and harbour porpoise were apparen
tly limited to the continental shelf. The diversity of species recorded in
the region suggests that the Atlantic Frontier is an important habitat for
cetaceans. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.