Habitat preferences of two deep-diving cetacean species in the northern Ligurian Sea

摘要: We used generalized additive models (GAMs) as exploratory habitat for describing the distribution of 2 deep-diving species, Cuvier's beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris Cuvier, 1823 and sperm Physeter catodon Linnaeus, 1758, in Pelagos Sanctuary (north- western Mediterranean). analyzed data collected from research surveys whale-watching activities during summer months 2004 to 2007. The dataset encompassed 147 sightings 52 sightings. defined applied a post hoc work- flow data, minimize false absence bias arising unique ecology species lack dedicated sampling design. calculated novel topographic predictor, distance canyon axis, covariate use model. Given complex topography area, analysis was performed on high-resolution spatial grid (1 km). Our methods allowed effective non-dedicated building elusive cryptic (Cuvier's final model sensitivity = 0.88 specificity 0.84; 0.65 0.77). GAM results confirmed preference submarine canyons both also highlighted importance deeper portion Ligurian basin, especially whale. Habitat overlap nevertheless is resolved by well-defined partitioning with occupying part central eastern parts.