Physeter and oceanography conditions in high maritime traffic areas

The Pelagos Sanctuary, a key marine protected area in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea, serves as an habitat for the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) [1,2]. Investigating the oceanographic conditions within this region is pivotal to understanding the species' spatial and temporal distribution, ecological habits, and foraging strategies. Oceanographic parameters such as sea surface temperature, salinity gradients, current dynamics, and primary productivity play a fundamental role in shaping prey availability and the whales’ habitat use [3]. The region's complex bathymetry, characterized by submarine canyons and steep continental slopes, creates localized upwelling zones that enhance trophic interactions [4]. Long-term monitoring of these conditions is essential to assess the impact of environmental variability and anthropogenic stressors, including climate change and marine traffic, on sperm whale populations. These insights are critical for refining conservation strategies and advancing sustainable management of the Pelagos Sanctuary as a biodiversity hotspot.

[1] Notarbartolo‐Di‐Sciara, G. (2014). Sperm whales, Physeter macrocephalus, in the Mediterranean Sea: a summary of status, threats, and conservation recommendations. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 24 (S1), 4-10.

[2] Poupard, M., Ferrari, M., Best, P., Glotin H. (2022). Passive acoustic monitoring of sperm whales and anthropogenic noise using stereophonic recordings in the Mediterranean Sea, North West Pelagos Sanctuary. Sci Rep 12, 2007.

[3] Azzellino, Arianna & Gaspari, Stefania & Airoldi, Sabina & Nani, B.. (2008). Habitat use of cetaceans along the continental slope and adjacent waters in the western Ligurian Sea. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. 55. 296-323. 10.1016/j.dsr.2007.11.006.

[4] M-C. Fabri, L. Pedel, L. Beuck, F. Galgani, D. Hebbeln, A. Freiwald (2014). Megafauna of vulnerable marine ecosystems in French Mediterranean submarine canyons: Spatial distribution and anthropogenic impacts, Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, Volume 104, Pages 184-207, ISSN 0967-0645.