Cetacean bioacoustics project with the University of Saint Andrews

The Marine Animal Recovery Center (CRAM), the General Management of Fisheries of the Balearic Islands Government and the University of St. Andrews (United Kingdom) have conducted several studies of sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) populations in the Balearic islands.

The main goal of this project has been to obtain information from each subject, determine the use they make of their habitat and to collect DNA samples from their shedded skin that floats on the water. Furthermore, population structures have been researched as well as their relationships with other communities of sperm whales in the Mediterranean sea and the Atlantic ocean through the use of acoustic recordings. The project has included a campaign of sightings and photo-identifications of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), which has been supplemented with data from other species such as sharks, turtles and other cetaceans. 

In the 2008 campaign, 564 miles were sailed, 122 of them next to sperm whales, of which 6 females and 2 males were photographed, and one male from a previous year was recaptured. 

The investigation stems from the agreement that CRAM and the Conselleria of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Balearic government signed in February of 2007 in order to conduct joint marine and oceanographic research. The agreement provides for joint use of equipment and instruments, for common funding of research programs and projects, for cooperation between researchers and for the exchange of information and advice on strategies for the recovery of endangered marine species. 

Meetings 2008

Stress Map 2008

Monitoring 2008

Caudal fin suitable for identification