Marine ecosystems depend on how species occupy their habitat. However, their distribution often remains unknown, even in protected areas. A new study has mapped the spatial distribution of marine species in the Mediterranean corridor and examines how environmental factors influence their distribution. These new findings should enable management policies for this marine protected area to be adjusted in order to cope with increasing anthropogenic pressures.
by Laurie Henry
Between increasing maritime traffic, multiple sources of pollution and the growth of offshore developments, many protected marine species do not always receive the level of monitoring required to counter the threats posed by human activities in the Mediterranean. Among the sensitive areas, the Cetacean Migration Corridor was classified as a marine protected area by Spain in 2018. However, there is still little documentation on the actual distribution of its emblematic inhabitants, particularly dolphins, whales and turtles.
A team of researchers from the University of Barcelona (IRBio) and the NGO SUBMON has just published a groundbreaking study on the abundance and habitat of these species in the northern part of the corridor. Thanks to two observation campaigns and complex prediction models, this work lifts part of the veil on the biogeography of these marine predators in the Mediterranean.
An ambitious field study
The cetacean migration corridor covers 46,385 km² between the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. In 2023, scientists set up a unique observation system covering 32,674 km², or 70% of the corridor.