Targeting fin whale conservation in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea: insights on movements and behaviour from biologging and habitat modelling
Biologging and habitat modelling are key tools supporting the development of conservation measures and mitigating the effects of anthropogenic pressures on marine species. Here, we analysed satellite telemetry data and foraging habitat preferences in relation to chlorophyll-a productivity fronts to...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Royal Society
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.231783 |
| _version_ | 1797272318480744448 |
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| author | Viola Panigada Thomas W. Bodey Ari Friedlaender Jean-Noël Druon Luis A. Huckstädt Nino Pierantonio Eduard Degollada Beatriu Tort Simone Panigada |
| author_facet | Viola Panigada Thomas W. Bodey Ari Friedlaender Jean-Noël Druon Luis A. Huckstädt Nino Pierantonio Eduard Degollada Beatriu Tort Simone Panigada |
| author_sort | Viola Panigada |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biologging and habitat modelling are key tools supporting the development of conservation measures and mitigating the effects of anthropogenic pressures on marine species. Here, we analysed satellite telemetry data and foraging habitat preferences in relation to chlorophyll-a productivity fronts to understand the movements and behaviour of endangered Mediterranean fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) during their spring–summer feeding aggregation in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea. Eleven individuals were equipped with Argos satellite transmitters across 3 years, with transmissions averaging 23.5 ± 11.3 days. Hidden Markov Models were used to identify foraging behaviour, revealing how individuals showed consistency in their use of seasonal core feeding grounds; this was supported by the distribution of potential foraging habitat. Importantly, tracked whales spent most of their time in areas with no explicit protected status within the study region. This highlights the need for enhanced time- and place-based conservation actions to mitigate the effects of anthropogenic impacts for this species, notably ship strike risk and noise disturbance in an area of exceptionally high maritime traffic levels. These findings strengthen the need to further assess critical habitats and Important Marine Mammal Areas that are crucial for focused conservation, management and mitigation efforts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:25:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dd0ab2f54d5b469cb272f26872bfa6dc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:25:40Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-dd0ab2f54d5b469cb272f26872bfa6dc2024-03-06T08:05:09ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032024-03-0111310.1098/rsos.231783Targeting fin whale conservation in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea: insights on movements and behaviour from biologging and habitat modellingViola Panigada0Thomas W. Bodey1Ari Friedlaender2Jean-Noël Druon3Luis A. Huckstädt4Nino Pierantonio5Eduard Degollada6Beatriu Tort7Simone Panigada8Tethys Research Institute, c/o Acquario Civico, Viale G.B. Gadio 2, 20121 Milano, ItalySchool of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, UKInstitute of Marine Sciences, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USAJoint Research Centre, (JRC), European Commission, Ispra, ItalyCentre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UKTethys Research Institute, c/o Acquario Civico, Viale G.B. Gadio 2, 20121 Milano, ItalyAssociació EDMAKTUB, 08393 Barcelona, Catalonia, SpainAssociació EDMAKTUB, 08393 Barcelona, Catalonia, SpainTethys Research Institute, c/o Acquario Civico, Viale G.B. Gadio 2, 20121 Milano, ItalyBiologging and habitat modelling are key tools supporting the development of conservation measures and mitigating the effects of anthropogenic pressures on marine species. Here, we analysed satellite telemetry data and foraging habitat preferences in relation to chlorophyll-a productivity fronts to understand the movements and behaviour of endangered Mediterranean fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) during their spring–summer feeding aggregation in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea. Eleven individuals were equipped with Argos satellite transmitters across 3 years, with transmissions averaging 23.5 ± 11.3 days. Hidden Markov Models were used to identify foraging behaviour, revealing how individuals showed consistency in their use of seasonal core feeding grounds; this was supported by the distribution of potential foraging habitat. Importantly, tracked whales spent most of their time in areas with no explicit protected status within the study region. This highlights the need for enhanced time- and place-based conservation actions to mitigate the effects of anthropogenic impacts for this species, notably ship strike risk and noise disturbance in an area of exceptionally high maritime traffic levels. These findings strengthen the need to further assess critical habitats and Important Marine Mammal Areas that are crucial for focused conservation, management and mitigation efforts.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.231783satellite telemetrycetaceanenvironmental predictorsforagingMarine Protected AreasParticularly Sensitive Sea Area |
| spellingShingle | Viola Panigada Thomas W. Bodey Ari Friedlaender Jean-Noël Druon Luis A. Huckstädt Nino Pierantonio Eduard Degollada Beatriu Tort Simone Panigada Targeting fin whale conservation in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea: insights on movements and behaviour from biologging and habitat modelling Royal Society Open Science satellite telemetry cetacean environmental predictors foraging Marine Protected Areas Particularly Sensitive Sea Area |
| title | Targeting fin whale conservation in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea: insights on movements and behaviour from biologging and habitat modelling |
| title_full | Targeting fin whale conservation in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea: insights on movements and behaviour from biologging and habitat modelling |
| title_fullStr | Targeting fin whale conservation in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea: insights on movements and behaviour from biologging and habitat modelling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Targeting fin whale conservation in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea: insights on movements and behaviour from biologging and habitat modelling |
| title_short | Targeting fin whale conservation in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea: insights on movements and behaviour from biologging and habitat modelling |
| title_sort | targeting fin whale conservation in the north western mediterranean sea insights on movements and behaviour from biologging and habitat modelling |
| topic | satellite telemetry cetacean environmental predictors foraging Marine Protected Areas Particularly Sensitive Sea Area |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.231783 |
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