Insights into the foraging Ecology of Azores Cetaceans: results of the MISTIC SEAS III project

• Main Authors: Hernández-Milian, Gema, Pereira, José Nuno, Prieto, Rui, Silva, Monica A., Ivaylova-Tsanicheva, S., Pierce, Graham J.
• Format: Still Image
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Physeter macrocephalus
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/335423

34th European Cetacean Society Conference, O Grove, 16-20 April 2023 Gaining knowledge on the foraging ecology of top predators is relevant to obtain indicators for the Descriptor 4 (Food-webs) within the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). These indicators are obtained through food-web models where local data are essential to obtain faithful results. During the MISTIC SEAS III project, a total of 24 stomachs from at least seven species were analysed: three pelagic dolphins (Delphinus delphis, Stenella coeureoalba, Stenella frontalis), and four deep diver species (Kogia breviceps, Physeter macrocephalus, Mesoplodon densirostris and Ziphius cavirostris). Pelagic dolphins were found to feed both on fish (48.6-78.6%FO) and cephalopods (21.4-46.0%FO). Regarding the deep divers, they were found to be teutophagous feeders apart from M.densirostris who only fed on mesopelagic fish. Most of the fish found in pelagic dolphins consisted of mesopelagic/bathypelagic (66.7%) and pelagic fish such as mackerel and horse mackerel (31.5%). More than 95% of cephalopods occurred in all cetaceans‟ stomachs were pelagic species which might occur at deep waters but also in surface waters. It is relevant to find out that cetaceans occurring in the Azores archipelagos might feed on different type of prey than in other areas, like more continental waters. The results of this information show the relevance of using local data in food-web models in the Macaronesia to obtain faithful indicators No