Seasonal distribution and abundance of cetaceans within French waters- Part I: The North-Western Mediterranean, including the Pelagos sanctuary

• Published in: Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography
• Main Authors: Laran, Sophie, Pettex, Emeline, Authier, Matthieu, Blanck, Aurélie, David, Lea, Dorémus, Ghislain, Falchetto, Hélène, Monestiez, Pascal, P., van Canneyt, Olivier, Ridoux, Vincent
• Other Authors: Observatoire pour la Conservation de la Mégafaune Marine (PELAGIS), LIttoral ENvironnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), La Rochelle Université (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-La Rochelle Université (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Agence des Aires Marines Protégées, EcoOcéan Institut France, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé - UMR 7372 (CEBC), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-La Rochelle Université (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2017
• Subjects: Sea; Mediterranean; Cetaceans; Striped dolphin; Common bottlenose dolphin; Fin whale; Aerial survey; Pelagos sanctuary; [SDE]Environmental Sciences
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-01510161; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2016.12.011

International audience The biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea is undergoing important changes. Cetaceans, as top predators, are animportant component of marine ecosystems. The seasonal distribution and abundance of several cetaceanspecies were studied with a large aerial survey over the North-Western Mediterranean Sea, including theinternational Pelagos sanctuary, the largest Marine Protected Area (MPA) designed for marine mammals in theMediterranean. A total of 8 distinct species of cetaceans were identified, and their occurrence within thesanctuary was investigated. Abundance estimates were obtained for three groups of species: the smalldelphinids (striped dolphins mainly), the bottlenose dolphin and the fin whale. There was a seasonal variationin striped dolphin abundance between winter (57,300 individuals, 95% CI: 34,500–102,000) and summer(130,000, 95% CI: 76,800–222,100). In contrast, bottlenose dolphin winter abundance was thrice that ofsummer. It was also the only species to exhibit any preference for the Pelagos sanctuary. Fin whale abundancehad the reverse pattern with winter abundance (1000 individuals, 95% CI: 500–2500) and summer (2500individuals, 95% CI: 1500–4300), without any preference for the sanctuary. Risso's dolphins, pilot whales andsperm whales did not exhibit strong seasonal pattern in their abundance. These results provide baselineestimates which can be used to inform conservation policies and instruments such as the Habitats Directive orthe recent European Marine Strategy Framework Directive.