Assessment of a NEMO-based downscaling experiment for the North-Western Mediterranean region: Impacts on the Northern Current and comparison with ADCP data and altimetry products

Abstract. The abyssal velocity of the Northern Current, in the north-western Mediterranean has been estimated using for the first time MERMAIDs, i.e. submarine drifting instruments that record seismic waves. In this study the Northern Current shows an intense activity even in deep layers of the water column. Through pseudo-eulerian statistics different components of the observed variability are analysed and described, revealing the turbulent nature of the Liguro-Provençal basin abyssal circulation.

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An algorithmic model for invasive species: Application to Caulerpa taxifolia (Vahl) C. Agardh development in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea

Ecological Modelling ◽

10.1016/s0304-3800(98)00058-1 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 109 (3) ◽

pp. 251-266 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

David Hill ◽

Patrick Coquillard ◽

Jean de Vaugelas ◽

Alexandre Meinesz

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

Mediterranean Sea ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Caulerpa Taxifolia ◽

The North ◽

Western Mediterranean Sea ◽

Algorithmic Model ◽

North Western

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Evaluation of the quality of bottom sediments from the north-western Mediterranean Sea by bio-geochemical criteria

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/0048-9697(92)90043-r ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 111 (1) ◽

pp. 25-46 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

François Fernex ◽

Mireille Richou ◽

Claude Benamou ◽

Jean Benaim

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Sea ◽

Bottom Sediments ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

The North ◽

Western Mediterranean Sea ◽

North Western

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Foraging dives of sperm whales in the north-western Mediterranean Sea

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315412001087 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 92 (8) ◽

pp. 1799-1808 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Alexandre Gannier ◽

Estelle Petiau ◽

Violaine Dulau ◽

Luke Rendell

Keyword(s):

Prey Capture ◽

Sperm Whale ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Sperm Whales ◽

The North ◽

Western Mediterranean Sea ◽

Single Animal ◽

Components Analysis ◽

Passive Acoustic ◽

North Western

Oceanic odontocetes rely on echolocation to forage on pelagic or benthic prey, but their feeding ecology is difficult to study. We studied sperm whale foraging dives during summer in the north-western Mediterranean, using visual and passive acoustic observations. Clicking and creaking activities were recorded during dives of focal whales, at distances <3000 m using a towed hydrophone and DAT recorder. A total of 52 sperm whales were recorded over at least one full dive cycle. Data were obtained for 156 complete dives in total, including sequences of up to nine consecutive dives. Various dive and environmental variables were entered in multiple linear regression and principal components analysis, as well as estimated mass of whales. Creak rate was 0.80 creak/minute on average, with moderate variance. Bigger whales tended to dive longer at greater depths (as suggested by ascent durations), and emitted more creaks during a dive: 20.2 creaks/dive on average for individuals <24 tons, compared to 25.6 creaks/dive for animals >24 tons of estimated mass. For individual whales, creak rates did not vary significantly with size (range 0.78–0.80 creak/minute), but decreased with time of the day, and increased for shorter foraging phases. For different dives, higher creak rates were also observed earlier in the day, and linked to shorter foraging phases and surface durations. Although the exact significance of creak emissions (i.e. foraging attempt or prey capture) is not precisely determined, creak rates may be reliably used to quantify sperm whale foraging when single animal dives can be followed acoustically.

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