Estimations of length-weight relationships and consumption rates of odontocetes in the Mediterranean Sea from stranding data

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2024.108622
• Publication Date: 2024-01-12T15:46:45Z
• Authors: R. Carlucci; P. Ricci; M. Ingrosso; D. Cascione; C. Fanizza; G. Cipriano
• Keywords: Bottlenose dolphin

Stranding data provide fundamental information on biometric traits of cetaceans useful to increase knowledge ecological and their consumption patterns. In this study, the length weight (L-W) relationships through power regression model (W=a×Lb) were calculated for three dolphin species (the striped dolphin, common bottlenose Risso's dolphin) in several Mediterranean subregions at scale entire basin. Length (L) (W) collected from stranding records during period 1983 2021 acquired databases literature. Starting L-W relationships, a bootstrap method was applied estimate mean body weights, daily ingested biomass (IB) annual food (AFC) rates different species. particular, four equations used IB rates. Prey by AFC available diet (expressed fractions) subregions. Considering Sea, b coefficient values equal 2.578, 2.975 2.988 striped, respectively. At scale, estimated 3913 kg (CI 2469–5306) 2571 (1372–3963) 1118 (531–1570) dolphin. pattern showed clear partitioning among investigated species, where exploits neritic demersal pelagic fishes (e.g. eel fishes, sparids), mesopelagic myctophids, specialized bathyal cephalopods Histioteuthidae family. The results obtained study new providing first consistent baseline support population dynamics modelling. same time, wide uncertainty ranges some parameters, as well lack stress necessity improving collection associated events, especially southern areas.