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

摘要: Oceanic odontocetes rely on echolocation to forage pelagic or benthic prey, but their feeding ecology is difficult study. We studied sperm whale foraging dives during summer in the north-western Mediterranean, using visual and passive acoustic observations. Clicking creaking activities were recorded of focal whales, at distances 24 tons estimated mass. For individual creak rates did not vary significantly with size (range 0.78–0.80 creak/minute), decreased time day, increased for shorter phases. different dives, higher also observed earlier linked phases surface durations. Although exact significance emissions (i.e. attempt prey capture) precisely determined, may be reliably used quantify when single animal can followed acoustically.