Multi-scale analysis reveals changing distribution patterns and the influence of social structure on the habitat use of an endangered marine predator, the sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus in the Western Mediterranean Sea

dc.check.date2021-10-18
dc.check.infoAccess to this article is restricted until 24 months after publication by request of the publisher.en
dc.contributor.authorPirotta, Enrico
dc.contributor.authorBrotons, José María
dc.contributor.authorCerdà, Margalida
dc.contributor.authorBakkers, Sanne
dc.contributor.authorRendell, Luke E.
dc.contributor.funderNational Geographic Societyen
dc.date.accessioned2020-02-20T15:00:05Z
dc.date.available2020-02-20T15:00:05Z
dc.date.issued2019-11-18
dc.date.updated2020-02-20T14:51:38Z
dc.description.abstractThe habitat use of marine megafauna emerges from the complex interplay between access to patchy and variable food resources and several intrinsic biological factors, such as the interaction with conspecifics and offspring care, resulting in dynamic distribution patterns. Quantifying species' relationships with the underlying environment is further complicated by the scale-dependent nature of these processes. Multi-scale analyses that incorporate aspects of a species' biology and build on large datasets are therefore required to understand long-term distribution and inform appropriate management measures. In this study, we use monitoring data collected over two study periods (2003–2008 and 2012–2018) to assess the habitat use, trend in local occurrence, and change in distribution of sperm whales, Physeter macrocephalus, around the Balearic Islands (Spain), one of the few recognised breeding and feeding grounds for the ‘Endangered’ population in the Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, we investigate the differences in the habitat use of single animals and groups, to explore intra-specific niche partitioning in this highly social but behaviourally dimorphic species. Results suggest that overall the occurrence of sperm whales in the area has been increasing over time. Animals were found to associate with distinct bathymetric features, but the mechanisms generating these relationships, and the underlying oceanographic processes within this habitat, remained uncertain. Sperm whale distribution also underwent a significant shift between the two study periods, with an increased occurrence in the Mallorca channel and north of Menorca, which further points towards a dynamic use of the broader bathymetric range preferred around the archipelago. Finally, our analyses highlighted that single animals and groups used areas with different characteristics, with groups preferring deeper, warmer waters characterised by lower sea level anomaly, which resulted in some fine-scale spatial segregation. The results of this study shed light on the mechanisms underpinning the biogeography and complex social system of the species, and support the design of targeted conservation measures in this important breeding and feeding ground.en
dc.description.sponsorshipNational Geographic Society (grant number EC-53116R-18)en
dc.description.statusPeer revieweden
dc.description.versionAccepted Versionen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.articleid103169en
dc.identifier.citationPirotta, E., Brotons, J. M., Cerdà, M., Bakkers, S. and Rendell, L. E. (2020) 'Multi-scale analysis reveals changing distribution patterns and the influence of social structure on the habitat use of an endangered marine predator, the sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus in the Western Mediterranean Sea', Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 155, 103169 (10 pp). doi: 10.1016/j.dsr.2019.103169en
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.dsr.2019.103169en
dc.identifier.endpage10en
dc.identifier.issn0967-0637
dc.identifier.journaltitleDeep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papersen
dc.identifier.startpage1en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/9676
dc.identifier.volume155en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherElsevieren
dc.relation.urihttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967063719303152
dc.rights© 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This manuscript version is made available under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence.en
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/en
dc.subjectHabitat modelingen
dc.subjectDistribution shiften
dc.subjectLong-term monitoringen
dc.subjectSperm whaleen
dc.subjectMediterranean seaen
dc.subjectBalearic archipelagoen
dc.titleMulti-scale analysis reveals changing distribution patterns and the influence of social structure on the habitat use of an endangered marine predator, the sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus in the Western Mediterranean Seaen
dc.typeArticle (peer-reviewed)en
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