Cetacean Sanctuary Research

Whales and dolphins of the Pelagos Sanctuary

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Cetacean Sanctuary Research is carried out in the Ligurian Sea, in the area of the cetacean Sanctuary, and focuses on two different kinds of habitats which are crucial for cetaceans:

The pelagic area. The fin whale, the only misticete regularly present in the Mediterranean Sea, has its summering grounds in the pelagic zone between the french-italian coast and Corsica. The research, which is continuously conducted since 1990, is focused on the ecology and the behaviour of this species.

The continental slope area. Various species of odontocetes live in the coastal region particularly: sperm whale, Risso's dolphin, common bottlenose dolphin, long-finned pilot whale, Cuvier's beaked whale and striped dolphin. This part of the research focuses on the ecology of odontocetes living over the continental slope (200-2,000 m).

"Pelagos" is the 21 m motor-sailer used to collect data in the Ligurian Sea Sanctuary. The boat , spacious and very comfortable, is equipped with an inflatable craft used for getting closer to the animals during the field work, and employed, during free time, to go snorkelling in one of the nice bays of France and Corsica. With its two masts the boat can sail and maneuver using a fully electronic system, that can be switched to manual at any one time. The surface of the deck is covered with teak wood, as is the fitting out below deck.

Dolphins and whales are usually sighted when the sea is calm and not windy.

The striped dolphin is by far the most common species in the Ligurian Sanctuary Sea, followed by fin whale, Risso’s dolphin and sperm whale.

Fin whales,

sperm whales,

Risso's dolphins,

striped dolphins,

common bottlenose dolphins and long-finned pilot whales. The rare Cuvier's beaked whale and short-beaked commom dolphins can be seen with some luck.

The Research

Depending on the species, we take pictures of different characters to identify single individuals, using a technique called "photo-identification".

For fin whales we need to take pictures of the dorsal fin and of the "blaze" and "chevron" coloration pattern behind the blowhole, on the right side.

For Risso’s dolphins and Cuvier's beaked whale the distinctive features are the dorsal fins and the whitish body scars.

Common bottlenose dolphins and long-finned pilot whales are identified by their dorsal fin's features, while sperm whales are identified by their flukes contour, usually lifted out of the water before diving, and by their body pigmentation.

After they start diving, sperm whales are followed acoustically by using hydrophones that allow to listen their vocalisations and the sounds produced by these big cetaceans. In this way it is possible to follow the animals for many hours, while they are diving, and record their clicks.

Vocalisations of other species, like Risso's dolphin, are also recorded

For all the investigated species the collected data include: geographic position, group size and composition, presence of calves, diving patterns, and behaviour.

For fin whales and striped dolphins, data are also collected on whale reactions to approaching boats. Thanks to a laser range-finder, animal movements are recorded on a laptop, while diving patterns are simultaneously recorded on a notepad.

The diving behaviour of fin whales, long-finned pilot whales and Risso's dolphins is also studied. Underwater movements, diving depth and swimming speed are monitored by attaching a v-TDR (velocity time-depth recorder) to the back of the animals, by means of a suction cup.

Once a v-TDR has been attached to an individual, its radio signal is followed with a directional antenna. After detaching from the animal, the v-TDR is recovered, and diving profiles are analysed.

Sometimes, when striped dolphins and Risso's dolphins come to bowride, a sponge on top of a wooden pole are used to collect a small piece of skin for genetic analyses. This technique is totally uninvasive and the dolphins may not realise that they have been touched by the sponge.

Sailing, swimming and relaxing time between duties.

A day full of work and satisfaction is ending, with a beautiful sunset in the middle of the sea, in the good company of a solitary sperm whale.

The Ligurian Sea Cetacean Sanctuary

Both research projects are conducted within the Ligurian Sea Cetacean Sanctuary, in an area delimited by Cote d'Azur, Tuscany, and northern Sardinia.

This region is particularly reach in nutrients and has a high concentration of plankton, invertebrates and fish. Due to abundance of prey, cetaceans are found in numbers that are higher than in other Mediterranean areas.

The creation of the Sanctuary represents a first step towards the effective protection of animals and marine mammals living in the area.

Inside the Sanctuary, besides cetaceans, many others marine species are sighted on a daily basis: a number of fish species, sea turtles, lampreys, manta rays and birds.

In the open sea, a goldcrest, a night heron, a dragonfly and a pigeon take a free ride to Corsica...

Activities and life in the field

Project participants are involved in all field research activities, helping the researchers to collect cetacean data and entering them in a computer. Lectures on cetaceans and marine biology are also given.

Researchers and project participants are often involved in the analysis of the pictures of the different cetacean species sighted at sea, for a preliminary individual photo-identification.

Together with the researchers, volunteers may be involved in "cooking competitions"...

they participate in sighting shifts during the day, and in night shifts when the boat stays in the open sea overnight.

Project participants also have the opportunity of seeing beautiful sites during the cruises.

If weather conditions are unfavourable, volunteers can participate in inland trips, and visit the small town of San Remo or the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco.

Project participants are given unforgettable experiences, staying in contact with the marine environment and its charming creatures, while meeting people from all over the world.

Most photographs in this page © Tethys Research Institute
Some photos: © Luigi Pastorelli, © Nico Schoßleitner/COER, © Dieter Paulmann, © Marco Frini, © Massimo Brega; cruise participants

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