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Davíð Pierre Milesi Gaches

  • Biodiversity Journal, 17 (1): 03-16

    Davíð Pierre Milesi Gaches & Alexandre Lhériau-Nice
    Assessing tourism disturbance to seals at an open-access wildlife watching site in Iceland
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2026.17.1.3.16

    ABSTRACT
    Increasing wildlife tourism raises concerns about anthropogenic disturbances to pinnipeds. This study investigates the impact of tourist presence on the resting behaviour of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina Linnaeus, 1758) at Hvítanes, a 24/7 open-access haul-out site in Iceland. Over 40 hours of observation between July and September 2021, we documented tourist behaviours and seal responses. Data were analysed using Factor Analysis of Mixed Data (FAMD) and Hierarchical Clustering on Principal Components (HCPC), followed by a Bayesian Logistic Regression to assess the effects of disturbance on resting behaviour. Results show that active tourist behaviours, such as close approaches or shouting, trigger strong negative seal responses, while even passive presence reduces resting probability. Our findings underline the need for improved site management and visitor guidance to mitigate human impact. We advocate for the recognition and protection of haul-out zones as distinct and vulnerable habitats at the interface of land and sea.