Habitat use and preferences of cetaceans along the continental slope and the adjacent pelagic waters in the western Ligurian Sea

Toothed whales in the northwestern Mediterranean: Insight into their feeding ecology using chemical tracers

“…Pilot whales seem to prefer the pelagic area, Risso's dolphins prefer the upper part of the slope, and sperm whales seem to have a habitat on the whole slope and surrounding pelagic waters (Praca et al, 2009;Praca and Gannier, 2008). However, Cuvier's beaked whales seem to be restricted to the northeast Ligurian Sea (Azzelino et al, 2008;Podesta et al, 2006) and will not be included here. On the other hand, the diet of pilot whales, sperm whales and Risso's dolphins has been studied in very few stomach content analyses, as these species rarely strand.…”

Risk mapping for sensitive species to underwater anthropogenic sound emissions: Model development and validation in two Mediterranean areas

“…Several studies have, in fact, reported beaked whales as regularly observed over the continental slope in waters 200-2000 m depth, (Hamazaky, 2002;Hooker et al, 2002;MacLeod and Zuur, 2005;Waring et al, 2001) and near submarine canyons (Wimmer and Whitehead, 2004). In the Mediterranean Sea, Cuvier's beaked whale presence has been found associated with the continental slope area and submarine canyons (Azzellino et al, 2008;Cañadas et al,2002;D'Amico et al, 2003;Gannier and Epinat, 2008;Moulins et al, 2007). This was another reason for trying a ''validation'' exercise using bathymetry as predictor for this species.…”

“…All cetaceans regularly observed in the Mediterranean Sea, including seven species of odontocetes (Cuvier's beaked whale (Z. cavirostris), striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas), common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), shortbeaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)) and only one species of mysticete, the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) are found in this region. The Gulf of Genoa in the Ligurian Sea was found to be a key area in the western Mediterranean Basin since Cuvier's beaked whales have been regularly observed at sea (Azzellino et al, 2008;D'Amico et al, 2003;Macleod and Mitchell, 2006;Moulins et al, 2007). The Gulf of Genoa is characterized by several canyons with very steep slope gradients extending from the shelf break to a depth of about 1200 m. The Genoa canyon region (Fig.…”

“…chlorophyll-a) predictors. As the presence/absence data set was zero-inflated, to balance the number of absence observations, presence data were weighted on the basis of encounter rates, according to Azzellino et al (2008). In order to select the best set of predictors, a forward stepwise method was used.…”

On the use of optical remote sensing to assess phytoplankton biomass dynamics in the Pelagos Sanctuary (Ligurian-Provençal Sea)

“…The bathymetry of the Ligurian-Provençal basin ranges offshore from 2500 m to 2700 m. The rocky coasts have submarine canyons and caves which generate both geomorphological and hydrological features. These geomorphological characteristics house a variety of habitats and biocoenotic assemblages (Azzellino et al, 2008). The hydrological features are generated by the physical processes occurring within the basin which form vertical front systems, thus allowing the nutrients to rise to the surface and underpin primary production.…”