Email: panigada@inwind.it

Education

Ph.D. in Environmental Biology. University of Siena, Italy (18-03-2002). Thesis title: "Ecology of the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) in the Ligurian Sea: seasonal presence, distribution and habitat choice".

Degree in Biological Sciences. University of Milan, Italy (21-02-1997). Thesis title: "Distribution, relative abundance and behavioral patterns of Stenella coeruleoalba (Meyen, 1833) in the Western Ligurian Sea, revealed with visual and acoustic survey". Grade 100/110.

Current positions

Chair, European Cetacean Society
The European Cetacean Society is the largest European association of cetacean scientists. It has about 500 professional members from over 30 countries and organizes annual meetings.

Vice-President, Tethys Research Institute
The Tethys Research Institute, founded in 1986, is a non-profit NGO dedicated to the preservation of the marine environment. It focuses on marine animals and particularly on cetaceans inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea, and aims at protecting its biodiversity by promoting the adoption of a precautionary approach for the management of natural resources. Public awareness and conservation activities, coupled with education and capacity building, find their strength in the Tethys' internationally recognized scientific background. The activities conducted by Tethys - inspired by compelling scientific evidence - seek to prevent the decline of marine species and to encourage a sustainable use of the marine environment, particularly where habitat degradation makes it necessary. Principal Investigator for a project funded by the Italian Ministry of the Environment to "Assess the presence of critical habitats for cetaceans within the Pelagos Sanctuary, coupled with an aerial survey for absolute abundance of striped dolphin and fin whales during the winter months".

Member of the Scientific Committee of ACCOBAMS
The Scientific Committee of ACCOBAMS, comprised of persons qualified as experts in cetacean conservation science, is an advisory body to the Meeting of the Parties. The Committee meets approximately once every year.

Member of the Scientific and Technical Committee of the Pelagos Sanctuary
The Pelagos Sanctuary is a wide Marine Protected Area (MPA) established in 2002 by a joint declaration between the Governments of France, Italy and Monaco. The Sanctuary was inscribed in the SPAMI list within the framework of the Barcelona Convention, after the ratification process of the three signatory States. This MPA lies between south-eastern France, Monaco, northern Sardinia and north-western Italy, covering an area of almost 90,000 km2. The area included in the Sanctuary comprises national waters of Italy, France and Monaco and adjacent international waters.

Member of the Italian Delegation at the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission
The Scientific Committee comprises up to 200 of the world's leading whale biologists. The Committee meets in the two weeks immediately before the main Commission meeting and it may also hold special meetings during the year to consider particular subjects. The Scientific Committee's report provides an annual review of the major issues affecting cetacean conservation. The subject matter considered by the Committee is largely determined by the scientific needs of the Commission.

Ongoing/major professional experience

1993/present - Ecology and conservation of the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) in the Ligurian Sea. With the Tethys Research Institute.

1998/present - Tagging and tracking with VHF transmitters and Velocity-Time-Depth- Recorder of fin whales in the Ligurian Sea. Principal Investigator. With the Tethys Research Institute.

2001-2004 - Director of research, member of the Steering Committee and Regional Coordinator for the Concerted Action Europhlukes (EVR1-CT-2001-20007) funded by the European Commission.

2002/present - Habitat use and preferences of cetaceans living in the Western Ligurian Sea, using geospatial modeling. Principal Investigator. With the Sea Mammal Research Unit and the Tethys Research Institute.

2002-2006 - Member of the Board of Directors, European Cetacean Society.

2003-2005 - Marie Curie Post Doctoral Fellow (Individual Fellowship CAT. 30), Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St. Andrews, Scotland. Title of the project: "Habitat choice and preferences of cetaceans in the western Ligurian Sea: insight through telemetry and satellite imagery".

2005/present - National contact point in regard to ship strikes of cetaceans, within the Ship Strikes Working Group (SSWG) established under the Conservation Committee of the International Whaling Commission.

2005 - Organizer of the Joint ACCOBAMS/Pelagos Workshop on Fin Whales in the Mediterranean Sea. Monaco, 12-13 November.

2005 - Organizer of the Joint ACCOBAMS/Pelagos Workshop on Large Whale Ship Strikes in the Mediterranean Sea. Monaco, 14-15 November.

2005-2006 - Co-principal Investigator of a project funded by "Stretto di Messina S.p.A." on spatial modelling of cetacean in the waters of the Strait of Messina, to assess the potential risk associated to the construction of a suspended bridge over the Strait. With the Tethys Research Institute.

Research interests

Natural history, ecology, habitat use, spatial modeling, telemetry, remote sensing, acoustics, critical habitats. Interactions between marine mammals and man: ship strikes, habitat degradation, conservation of vulnerable species.

Public awareness and popularization of issues relating to the conservation of the marine environment, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea.

Languages

Excellent written and spoken English, basic French and Spanish. Mother tongue: Italian.

Miscellaneous

Italian captain license for sailing and motor boats.

CMAS International diving certificate, 1st level.

Naturalistic photography.

Good knowledge of PC and Macintosh applications.

Good knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Image Processing applications.

Basic knowledge of R and Matlab software.

Thesis advisor for several students in Italian Universities.

Past professional experience

1992, August - The socio-ecology of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the northern Adriatic Sea: photo-identification and behavioral observations. With the Tethys Research Institute.

1992, December - Crossing of the Atlantic Ocean on board of a 41 foot sailing vessel.

1993, December - Cetacean survey in the Ligurian Sea on board of the Rainbow Warrior. With Greenpeace International.

1994, summer - Acoustic survey in the Ligurian Sea. With the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

1994/2000 - In charge of the logistic and organization of Gemini Lab, a 19.8 meter long ketch motor-sailer of the Tethys Research Institute.

1996, summer - Ecology and bioacoustics of odontocete cetaceans in the Ligurian Sea. Principal Investigator. With the Tethys Research Institute.

1997, May 24 - June 4 - Organizer and trainer of a training cruise in the Ionian Sea for eastern Mediterranean Countries, funded by the Regional Activity Center for Special Protected Areas (RAC/SPA - MAP/UNEP).

1997, summer - Captain of Gemini Lab, a 19.8 meter long ketch motor-sailer of the Tethys Research Institute.

1998, May/June - Captain of Gemini Lab, a 19.8 meter long ketch motor-sailer of the Tethys Research Institute.

1998, May 21 - June 1 - Organizer and trainer of a workshop and a training cruise in the waters of Tunisia and Malta for eastern Mediterranean Countries, funded by the Regional Activity Center for Special Protected Areas (RAC/SPA - MAP/UNEP).

1998, August 8 - September 15 - Guest student at the Biology Department of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

1999, 2-14 August - Cetacean expert during the Sirena 1999 cruise in the Ligurian Sea, within the Sound, Oceanography and Living Marine Resources (SOLMR) Project of the SACLANT Undersea Research Centre.

2000, August 30 - September 8 - Cetacean expert during the Sirena 2000 cruise in the Ligurian Sea, within the Sound, Oceanography and Living Marine Resources (SOLMR) Project of the SACLANT Undersea Research Centre. In collaboration with the Biology Department of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

2001/2002 - Grant holder for a project on the "Impact of Collisions between Cetaceans and Vessels on Mediterranean Sea Populations" funded by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). With the Tethys Research Institute.

2001, 6-9 May - Organizer and chairman of a workshop entitled "Collisions between cetaceans and vessels: can we find solutions". 15th Annual Meeting of the European Cetacean Society, Roma, Italy.

2001-2002 - "Invited person" to the Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Inland and Marine Waters, of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (www.me.sai.jrc.it) November 2001 - April 2002.

2004, June - September - Chief Scientist - Science logistical coordinator, Mediterranean Voyage of the Odyssey, with the Ocean Alliance (www.oceanalliance.org - www.pbs.org/odyssey).

2004, 27 September - 2 October - Tagging and tracking with VHF transmitters and Velocity-Time-Depth-Recorder of fin whales in the Celtic Sea. Principal Investigator. With the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group.

Conferences and workshops attended

1994 - 8th Annual Meeting of the European Cetacean Society, Montpellier, France, 4-6 March.

1995 - 9th Annual Meeting of the European Cetacean Society, Lugano, Switzerland, 9-11 February.

1995 - Bioacoustical workshop organized by the Acoustical Society of America, Orlando, Florida, 12-13 December.

1995 - Eleventh Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Orlando, Florida, 14- 18 December.

1997 - 11th Annual Meeting of the European Cetacean Society, Stralsund, Germany, 10-12 March.

1997 - Bioacoustical Oceanography Workshop. University of California at Santa Cruz. July 20 - August 16.

1997 - Third National Conference on cetaceans organized by "Centro Studi Cetacei, Società Internazionale di Scienze Naturali", Neaples, Italy. 5-6 December.

1998 - 12th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Monaco, France, 20-24 January.

1998 - Bioacoustical Oceanography Workshop. University of New Hampshire. July 24 - August 8.

1999 - Annual Science Conference of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), Stockholm, Sweden, 29 September-2 October.

1999 - 13th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Wailea, Maui, Hawaii, 28 Nov -3 December.

2001 - 15th Annual Meeting of the European Cetacean Society, Roma, Italy, 6-9 May.

2001 - Invited speaker to the Europhlukes Workshop "Who Swims there?" 8 December.

2002 - ACCOBAMS 1st Meeting of the Parties, Monaco. 28 February - 2 March.

2002 - 16th Annual Meeting of the European Cetacean Society, Liege, Belgium, 7-10 April.

2002 - Invited expert to the 1st Meeting of the Scientific Committee of ACCOBAMS, Tunis, 3-5 October.

2002 - Invited speaker to the Europhlukes Scientific Conference. 22-25 November.

2003 - 17th Annual Meeting of the European Cetacean Society, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, 10-12 March.

2003 - Oceans 2003 Marine Technology and Ocean Science Conference MTS/IEEE Conference, San Diego, California, USA, 22-26 September.

2003 - Invited speaker to the Europhlukes Student Lecture, November 12.

2003 - Invited expert to the 2nd Meeting of the Scientific Committee of ACCOBAMS, Istanbul, 20-22 November.

2004 - Invited speaker to Míol Mór 2004 - International Whale Conference, Co. Cork, Ireland. 24-26 September.

2004 - IV National Conference on Sea Sciences, CoNISMa, Terrasini, PA, Italy. 18-22 October.

2004 - Europhlukes final meeting, Lanzarote, Spain. 23-25 October.

2004 - Invited speaker to the "Conferenza Straordinaria sull'Ambiente" organized by ARPAT Tuscany, Porto Ferraio, Elba Island. 28-29 October.

2004 - ACCOBAMS 2nd Meeting of the Parties, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. 8-12 November.

2005 - 19th Annual Meeting of the European Cetacean Society, La Rochelle, France, 1-6 April.

2005 - 3rd Meeting of the Scientific Committee of ACCOBAMS, Cairo, Egypt, 14-17 May.

2005 - 57th meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission. Member of the Italian Delegation. Ulsan, Korea. 30 May - 7 June.

2005 - 16th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, San Diego, CA, USA, 12- 16 December.

2006 - 20th Annual Meeting of the European Cetacean Society, Gdynia, Poland, 3-6 April.

2006 - 58th meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission. Member of the Italian Delegation. St Kitts and Nevis. 24 May - 4 June 6.

2006 - 4th Meeting of the Scientific Committee of ACCOBAMS, Monaco, 5-8 November.

2006 - V National Conference on Sea Sciences, CoNISMa, Viareggio, LU, Italy. 14-18 November.

2007 - 2nd Meeting of the Scientific and Technical Committee of the Pelagos Sanctuary. Monaco, 12 March.

2007 - Joint Industry Program Workshop on: "the technology requirements for the JIP research program on effects of sound on marine wildlife". St Andrews, Scotland, U.K. 20-22 March.

2007 - 21st Annual Meeting of the European Cetacean Society, San Sebastian, Spain, 23-25 April.

2007 - 59th meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission. Member of the Italian Delegation. Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.A. 5-17 May .

2007 - IUCN Workshop on: "Risks from Maritime Traffic to Biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea". Istanbul, Turkey, 20-22 September.

2007 - ACCOBAMS 3rd Meeting of the Parties, Dubrovnik, Croatia. 22-26 November.

Professional affiliations

European Cetacean Society (Member)

Society for Marine Mammalogy (Member)

Conference abstracts, reports and non peer-reviewed publications

Notarbartolo-di-Sciara, G., Berubé, M., Zanardelli, M., and Panigada, S. 1996. The role of the Mediterranean in fin whale ecology: insight through genetics. European Research on Cetaceans, 9:218-219.

Jahoda, M., S. Airoldi, N. Biassoni, J.F. Borsani, L. Cianfanelli, G. Lauriano, G. Notarbartolo di Sciara, S. Panigada and M. Zanardelli. 1997. Behavioral reactions to biopsy-darting on Mediterranean fin whales. European Research on Cetaceans, 10:43-47.

Panigada, S., G. Notarbartolo di Sciara. 1997. Research-training cruise on cetaceans in the Ionian Sea: 24 May to 4 June 1997. Report to RAC/SPA - MAP - UNEP. Tethys Research Institute unpublished report. 15 pp.

Jahoda, M., C. Almirante, A. Azzellino, N. Biassoni, C.L Lafortuna, G. Notarbartolo di Sciara, S. Panigada, e M. Zanardelli. 1997. La reazione delle balenottere (Balaenoptera physalus) del Mar Ligure al disturbo causato dalla presenza di imbarcazioni, studiata mediante tracking passivo e monitoraggio della respirazione. III National Meeting on Cetaceans, Napoli, 5-6 dicembre 1997.

Panigada, S., S. Airoldi, A. Azzellino, N. Biassoni, J.F. Borsani, L. Cianfanelli, M. Jahoda, G.C. Lauriano, G. Notarbartolo di Sciara, C. Vallini, e M. Zanardelli. 1997. Reazioni comportamentali al prelievo di biopsie da parte della balenottera comune (Balaenoptera physalus) in Mar Ligure. III National Meeting on Cetaceans, Napoli, 5-6 dicembre 1997.

Panigada, S., J.F. Borsani, G. Notarbartolo di Sciara, e M. Zanardelli. 1997. Presenza, distribuzione e modelli di attività di Stenella coeruleoalba (Meyen, 1833) in Mar Ligure occidentale, rilevati mediante survey acustico e visivo. III National Meeting on Cetaceans, Napoli, 5-6 dicembre 1997.

Zanardelli, M., S. Panigada, S. Airoldi, J.F. Borsani, M. Jahoda, e G. Notarbartolo di Sciara. 1997. Presenza stagionale e sex ratio di balenottera comune (Balaenoptera physalus) nell'area di alimentazione del Mar Ligure. III National Meeting on Cetaceans, Napoli, 5-6 dicembre 1997.

Panigada, S., M. Zanardelli. 1998. Mediterranean Fin Whale Project. Rapporto 1990-1997. Tethys Research Institute Technical Report TRI/MFWP 98-01. 16 pp.

Panigada, S., M. Zanardelli. 1998. Research-training cruise on cetaceans in the waters of Tunisia and Malta: 23 May to 1 June 1998. Report to RAC/SPA - MAP - UNEP.Tethys Research Institute unpublished report. 13 pp.

Zanardelli, M., Panigada, S., Airoldi, S., Borsani, J.F., Jahoda, M., and Notarbartolo di Sciara, G. Site fidelity, seasonal residence and sex ratio of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in the Ligurian Sea feeding grounds. In: Abstracts of the 12th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, 20-24 January 1998, Monaco, France.

Lafortuna C.L, Jahoda M., Biassoni N, Azzellino A., Zanardelli M., Panigada S., Notarbartolo di Sciara G. and Saibene F. Locomotor behavior and respiratory pattern in the mediterranean fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) tracked in the summer feeding ground. In: Abstracts of the 12th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, 20-24 January 1998, Monaco, France.

Notarbartolo-di-Sciara, G., Clark, C.W., Zanardelli, M. and Panigada, S. Migration patterns of fin whales, Balaenoptera physalus: shaky old paradigms and local anomalies. 12th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, 20-24 January 1998, Monaco, France.

Zanardelli, M., S. Panigada. 1988. Research-training cruises on cetaceans in the Ionian Sea and in the waters of Tunisia and Malta: 1997-1998. Meeting of Experts on the implementation of the Action Plans for marine mammals (monk seal and cetaceans) adopted within the Mediterranean Action Plan. Arta, Greece, 29-31 October 1998.

Panigada, S., Zanardelli, M., Canese, S. and Jahoda, M. 1999. Fin whales tracked with Velocity-Time-Depth-Recorder radio tags in the Western Mediterranean Sea. In: Abstracts of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), Stockholm, Sweden, 29 September-2 October.

Fossi, M.C., Marsili, L., Neri. G., Casini, S., Panigada, S. 1999. From perception to prediction of ecotoxicological risk to marine mammals. In: Abstracts of the 13th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Wailea, Maui, Hawaii, 28 Nov -3 December.

Jahoda, M., Almirante, C., Azzellino, A., Panigada, S., Zanardelli, M., Canese, S. 1999. 3D tracking as a tool for studying behavior in Mediterranean fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus). In: Abstracts of the 13th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Wailea, Maui, Hawaii, 28 Nov -3 December.

Panigada, S., Zanardelli, M., Canese, S. and Jahoda, M. 1999. Deep diving performances of Mediterranean fin whales. In: Abstracts of the 13th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Wailea, Maui, Hawaii, 28 Nov -3 December.

Fossi, M.C., Marsili, L., Neri, G., Casini, S., Bearzi, G., Politi, E., Zanardelli, M., Panigada, S. 1999. Use of Mediterranean cetaceans skin biopsies in the investigation of interspecies susceptibility to xenobiotic contaminants. PRIMO 10, Williamsburg, VA, USA, 25-29 April 1999.

Marsili, L., Fossi, M.C., Neri, G., Casini, S., Bearzi, G., Politi, E., Zanardelli, M., Panigada, S. 1999. Skin biopsies for cell cultures from Mediterranean free-ranging cetaceans. PRIMO 10, Williamsburg, VA, USA, 25-29 April 1999.

Marsili, L., Fossi, M.C., Neri, G., Gardi, C., Palmeri, S., Tarquini, E., Panigada, S., Zanardelli, M., Politi, E., Bearzi, G. 1999. Skin biopsies for cell cultures from free-ranging cetaceans of the Mediterranean Sea. 9th Annual Meeting of SETAC-Europe. Leipzig, Germany, 25-29 May 1999.

Marsili, L., Fossi, M.C., Neri, G., Airoldi, S., Bearzi, G. and Panigada, S. 2000. Skin biopsies for cell cultures from Mediterranean free-ranging cetaceans. European Research on Cetaceans 14:231-233.

Pesante, G., Zanardelli, M., Panigada, S. 2000. Evidence of man-made injuries on Mediterranean fin whales. European Research on Cetaceans, 14:192-193.

Panigada, S., Notarbartolo di Sciara, G., Zanardelli, M., Airoldi, S., Borsani, J.F., Jahoda, M., Pesante, G., & Revelli, E. In press. Distribution and occurrence of fin whales in the Ligurian Sea between 1990-99. European Research on Cetaceans, 15.

Jahoda M., Azzellino A., Lafortuna C.L., Notarbartolo di Sciara G., Almirante, C., Borsani, J.F., D'Amico, A., Panigada S., Zanardelli, M., and Bearzi, G. In press. Passive tracking and timing of respiration as a methodology to determine reactions of Mediterranean fin whales in response to different sources of possible disturbance. European Research on Cetaceans, 15.

Panigada, S., Zanardelli, M., and Notarbartolo di Sciara, G. In press. Conservation issues concerning Mediterranean fin whales. European Research on Cetaceans, 16.

Zanardelli, M., Panigada, S., and Bearzi, G. In press. Presence of common bottlenose dolphins and short-beaked common dolphins along the Tunisia and Maltese coasts. European Research on Cetaceans, 16.

Revelli, E., Panigada, S., Zanardelli, M., Azzellino, A., and Canese, S. In press. Diving behaviour of Mediterranean Fin Whales using Velocity-Time Depth Recorders. European Research on Cetaceans, 16.

Barale, V., Panigada, S., and Zanardelli, M. In press. Habitat preferences of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in the North-western Mediterranean Sea: a comparison between in situ and remote sensing data. In: Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Remote Sensing for Marine and Coastal Environments, Miami, Florida, 20-22 May 2002.

Panigada, S., Pesante, G., and Zanardelli, M. 2002. Impact of collisions between cetaceans and vessel on Mediterranean Sea populations. Tethys Research Institute Report TRI/IFAW 01/2002. Pp. 17.

Panigada, S., G. Pesante, S. Oehen and M. Zanardelli. In press. Day and night-time behaviour of fin whales in the Western Ligurian Sea. European Research on Cetaceans, 17.

Huele, R., P. Evans, A. Cañadas, S. Panigada, H. Heijmans, E. Pauwels, A. Steenbeek. In press. Unlocking European photo-collections by feature-based retrieval. European Research on Cetaceans, 17.

Panigada, S., G. Pesante, M. Zanardelli and S. Oehen. 2003. Day and night-time behaviour of fin whales in the Western Ligurian Sea. Proceedings of the Conference Oceans 2003, September 22-26, 2003, San Diego, California. Pp 466-471.

Bendinoni, F., Azzellino, A., Panigada, S., and Zanardelli, M. 2003. Fin whale population estimates in the Western Ligurian Sea through mark-recapture methods applied to photoidentification Data. In: Abstracts of the 15th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Greensboro, NC, USA, 14-19 December.

Panigada, S., Zanardelli Panigada, M., and Hammond, P. In press. Distribution of fin whales in the western Ligurian Sea in relation to physiographic variables. European Research on Cetaceans, 18.

Panigada, S. Fin whales in the Mediterranean Sea: presence, distribution, diving behaviour and conservation issues. Míol Mór 2004 - International Whale Conference, Rosscarbery, Co. Cork, Ireland. 24-26 September 2004.

Panigada, S., Notarbartolo di Sciara, G., Zanardelli Panigada, M., and Hammond, P. Fin whales summering in the Pelagos Sanctuary (Mediterranean Sea): distribution, encounter rate, relation to physiographic variables and conservation issues. IV National Conference on Sea Sciences, CoNISMa, Terrasini, PA, Italy. 18-22 October 2004.

Panigada, S., Notarbartolo di Sciara, G. Il Santuario Pelagos come strumento moderno di tutela per i cetacei del Mediterraneo. Conferenza Straordinaria sull'Ambiente", Porto Ferraio, Elba Island. 28-29 October 2004.

Evans, P.G.H., Beekman, B., Cañadas, A., Davis, P., Gordon, J.C.D., Huele, R., Panigada, S., Pauwels, E., Ranguelova, E., Steenbeek, A., Steiner, L., Thijsse, P. In Press. The Europhlukes project - a European-wide photo-id catalogue. European Research on Cetaceans, 19.

Huele, R., Pauwels, E., Davis, P. (3), Evans, P., Canadas, A., De Stephanie, R., Freitas, L., Martel, V.M., Villalba, N., Lopez, A. (10), Panigada, S., Gannier, A., Simila, T., Kingsley, M., Liret, C., Gordon, J., Rogan, E., Steiner, L. In press. Results of the Europhlukes project. European Research on Cetaceans, 19.

Panigada, S., Pesante, G., Zanardelli, M., Capoulade, F. 2005. Are Mediterranean fin whales threatened by ship strikes? In: Abstracts of the 17th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, San Diego, CA, USA, 12-16 December.

Panigada, S., Zanardelli, M., MacKenzie, M., Donovan, C., Mélin, F., Hammond, P.S. In press. Modelling habitat preferences for fin whales and striped dolphins in the Pelagos Sanctuary (Western Mediterranean Sea). European Research on Cetaceans, 20.

Panigada, S., Podestà, M., Zanardelli, M., Moulins, A. La balenottera comune e il rischio di collisione con imbarcazioni nel Santuario Pelagos. 5° Convegno nazionale per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Viareggio, 14-18 Novembre 2006.

Fossi, M.C., Marsili, L., Casini, S., Bucalossi, D., Porcelloni, S., Maltese, S., Caliani, I., Carletti, L., Panigada, S., de Stephanis, R., Jimenez, B., Canese, S., Greco, S. Indagini ecotossicologiche su due specie "target" di cetacei del Mar Mediterraneo: Stenella coeruleoalba e Balaenoptera physalus. Analisi di biomarkers e livelli di contaminanti ambientali. 5° Convegno nazionale per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Viareggio, 14-18 Novembre 2006.

ACCOBAMS. 2006. Report of the Joint ACCOBAMS/Pelagos Workshop on Fin Whales in the Mediterranean Sea. G. Donovan, S. Panigada, C. Guinet (eds.). Monaco, 12-13 Nov. 2005. 40 pp.

ACCOBAMS. 2006. Report of the Joint ACCOBAMS/Pelagos Workshop on Large Whale Ship Strikes in the Mediterranean Sea. M. Weinrich, S. Panigada, C. Guinet (eds.). Monaco, 14-15 Nov. 2005. 35 pp.

Panigada, S., Podestà, M., Greco, S., Rosso, M. 2006. Update on ship strikes events in Italian waters between 2002 and 2005. Paper presented at the IWC SC/58/BC4.

Panigada, S., Notarbartolo di Sciara, G., Zanardelli, M., Agazzi, S., Bendinoni, F., Costa, M., and Pesante, G.. 2007. Habitat use and preferences of cetaceans in the Strait of Messina (Italy) through spatial modelling: implications for management. European Research on Cetaceans, 21.

Casini, S., Fossi, M.C., Marsili, L., Bucalossi, D., Porcelloni, S., Maltese, S., Caliani, I., Spinsanti, G., Panigada, S., de Stephanis, R., Jimenez, B., Lauriano, G., Canese, S., Greco, S. 2007. Ecotoxicological study of two target species of cetaceans IN the mediterranean sea: Stenella coeruleoalba and Balaenoptera physalus. Analysis of biomarkers and environmental contaminant levels. In: Abstracts of the 18th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Cape Town, RSA, 29 November -3 December 2007.

Peer-reviewed publications

Marsili, L., Fossi, M.C., Notarbartolo-di-Sciara, G., Zanardelli, M., Nani, B., Panigada, S. and Focardi, S. 1998. Relationship between organochlorine contaminants and mixed oxidase activity in skin biopsy specimens of Mediterranean fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus). Chemosphere 37 (8):1501-1510.

Panigada, S., Zanardelli, M., Canese, S. and Jahoda, M. 1999. How deep can baleen whales dive? Marine Ecology Progress Series 187:309-311.

Gordon, J.C.D., Matthews, J.N., Panigada, S., Gannier, A., Borsani, J.F., and Notarbartolodi- Sciara, G. 2000. Distribution and relative abundance of striped dolphins, and distribution of sperm whales in the Ligurian Sea cetacean sanctuary: results from a collaboration using acoustic monitoring techniques. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, 2(1):27- 36.

Fossi, M.C., Marsili, L., Neri, G., Casini, S., Bearzi, G., Politi, E., Zanardelli, M., Panigada, S. 2000. Skin biopsy of Mediterranean cetaceans for the investigation of interspecies susceptibility to xenobiotic contaminants. Marine Environmental Research, 50:517-521.

Marsili, L., Fossi, M.C., Neri, G., Casini, S., Gardi, C., Palmeri, S., Tarquini, E., Panigada, S. 2000. Skin biopsy of for cell cultures from Mediterranean free-ranging cetaceans. Marine Environmental Research, 50:523-526.

Jahoda, M., Lafortuna, C.L., Biassoni, N., Almirante, C., Azzellino, A., Panigada, S., Zanardelli, M. & Notarbartolo di Sciara, G. 2003. Mediterranean fin whale's (Balaenoptera physalus) response to small vessels and biopsy sampling assessed through passive tracking and timing of respiration. Marine Mammal Science, 19(1):96-110.

Notarbartolo di Sciara, G., Zanardelli, M., Jahoda, M., Panigada, S., Airoldi, S. 2003. The Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus (L. 1758), in the Mediterranean Sea. Mammal Review. 33(2):105-150.

Fossi, M.C., Marsili, L., Neri, G., Natoli, A., Politi, E., and Panigada, S. 2003. The use of a non-lethal tool for evaluating toxicological hazard of organochlorine contaminants in Mediterranean cetaceans: new data 10 years after the first paper published in MPB. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 46(8):972-982.

Panigada, S., Notarbartolo di Sciara, G., Zanardelli Panigada, M., Airoldi, S., Borsani J.F. and Jahoda, M. 2005. Fin whales summering in the Ligurian Sea: distribution, encounter rate, mean group size and relation to physiographic variables. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, 7(2):137-145.

Panigada, S., Notarbartolo di Sciara, G., Zanardelli Panigada, M. 2006. Fin whales summering in the Pelagos Sanctuary (Mediterranean Sea): overview of studies on habitat use and diving behaviour. Chemistry and Ecology, 22 (supplement 1):255-263.

Panigada, S., Pesante, G., Zanardelli, M., Capoulade, F., Gannier, A., Weinrich, M.T. 2006. Mediterranean fin whales at risk from fatal ship strikes. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 52:1287- 1298.

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Panigada, S., Zanardelli, M., MacKenzie, M., Donovan, C., Mélin, F., Hammond, P.S. In press. Modelling habitat preferences for fin whales and striped dolphins in the Pelagos Sanctuary (Western Mediterranean Sea) with physiographic and remote sensing variables. Remote Sensing of the Environment.