Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2025-07-23"
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Biogeography, population and trophic ecology of cetaceans in a warm-temperate habitatPublication . Ferreira, Rita Borges; Kaufmann, Manfred; Alves, Filipe Marco AndradeCetaceans play a crucial role in marine ecosystems by maintaining their structure and function, providing essential ecosystem services, and acting as sentinel species. Despite the inherent challenges, research efforts to document the distribution and movements of pelagic cetacean populations have increased. Oceanic islands present strategic advantages for studying pelagic cetaceans and integrating datasets from multiple sources is a valuable approach to obtaining the long-term datasets necessary for ecological studies on these long-lived mammals. Ultimately, such integration provides insights into cetacean populations' connectivity and migration patterns across various territories and international borders. The present study aims to elucidate the distribution, movements, and ecological interactions of eight cetacean species, for which limited information exists in the Macaronesia region (Eastern North Atlantic), thereby providing crucial insights for their conservation. This study focuses on understanding the movement patterns and site fidelity of Bryde's whale, sperm whale, and Blainville's beaked whale in the archipelagos of the Madeira, Azores, and Canaries through photographic-identification methods. Additionally, in Madeira, it examines the social structure of the Blainville's beaked whale through photographic identification and analyzes the dietary habits and ecological roles of six odontocete species through stable isotopes. Research findings indicate that Bryde's whales exhibit high site fidelity to the Madeira Archipelago during their seasonal presence, with first-time documented inter archipelago movements between Madeira and the Canaries. This reflects the species' wide habitat range in the Macaronesia region, including international waters. For sperm whales, the study supports the existence of a pelagic population in Macaronesia, with a subset regularly using the Azores and Madeira Archipelagos. Preliminary data from the Canaries suggest a need for further research to evaluate a population significantly impacted by ship strikes. Blainville's beaked whales demonstrate female defense polygyny in the Madeira Archipelago, with strong associations between females and immatures, who exhibit the highest site fidelity rates. These findings underscore the significance of the Macaronesia region in providing essential habitats for these species. The study also highlights variations in dietary preferences and foraging strategies among different species, enhancing our understanding of marine biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics. It emphasizes the need for international collaboration when addressing the conservation challenges of these highly dynamic species. By combining long-term datasets with innovative methodologies, this research significantly contributes to the understanding and protection of cetaceans, underscoring the critical role of oceanic islands in marine conservation efforts.