Scientists from the ICM and the IEO participate in this work, which could be crucial for developing more effective conservation policies, such as creating marine protected areas or regulating human activities.
An international scientific team, including researchers from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO, CSIC) and the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM, CSIC), has successfully identified key feeding areas for Mediterranean marine megafauna—including large fish, cetaceans, turtles, and seabirds—using an innovative approach called energyscapes. This method combines satellite tracking data with ecological models to estimate the distribution of their prey.
This new study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), estimates that 4.1 million large predators consume approximately 1.6 million tons of prey each summer in the Mediterranean, tiny pelagic fish and cephalopods concentrated in the westernmost region.
"The study reveals the immense amount of biomass consumed by marine megafauna, as well as its spatial distribution. Understanding these patterns helps us assess the ecological role of these species and the need to protect their habitats," explains Joan Giménez, a researcher at the Málaga Oceanographic Center.
The energyscapes methodology used in this study represents a significant advancement in marine ecology. By integrating ecological and energetic data, this approach provides a more comprehensive view of predator-prey interactions, enabling more effective marine ecosystem management.
"The Mediterranean is a highly dynamic and vulnerable ecosystem. Our findings reinforce the urgency of establishing management strategies that not only protect megafauna but also ensure the sustainability of fish and cephalopod populations that are part of the food web," states Joan Navarro from ICM, CSIC.
The results of this research could have direct implications for marine conservation in the Mediterranean. According to the researchers, identifying critical feeding areas for these species is key to developing more effective conservation policies, such as the creation of marine protected areas or the regulation of human activities that may disrupt these essential habitats.
This international study was conducted as part of the EcoScope project, funded by the European Horizon 2020 program.