Cetaceans are a diverse group of marine mammals that are well-adapted to life in the water. They include whales, dolphins and porpoises. Cetaceans have streamlined bodies, which allow them to move efficiently through the water. They use flukes (tail fins) for propulsion. Despite being marine mammals, cetaceans are air-breathing creatures. They possess blowholes on the tops of their heads, which they use to surface and breath. It enables them to remain underwater for extended periods, varying depending on the species. Key features include their complete adaptation to aquatic life, frequently substantial size, and strictly carnivorous diet. There are over 80 recognized species of cetaceans, this includes the largest animal on Earth, the blue whale.
Cetaceans play crucial roles in marine ecosystems, influencing prey populations and maintaining the balance of marine food webs. Many cetacean species are migratory, traveling long distances between feeding and breeding grounds. Often cetacean species are highly social and live pods or schools. These groups can range in size from a few individuals to several hundred.
Diet: Cetaceans exhibit a wide range of feeding behaviors and diets. Some species are filter feeders, consuming tiny plankton and small fish, while others are active hunters, capturing larger prey like fish and squid.
Threats: Cetaceans have been the target of extensive hunting for their meat, blubber, and oil by commercial enterprises. Noise pollution from sources like shipping, oil drilling, and military activities can interfere with cetacean communication, navigation, and feeding. This can lead to stress and reduced reproductive success. Additionally overfishing of key prey species for cetaceans, can lead to food scarcity and overall population declines.
Return to Birds and Mammals.
Example species: Lagenorhynchus albirostris(White-beaked dolphin)
Habitat: Pelagic
Main role: Predator
Trophic level: 4,8
Diet: They prey on whiting and cephalopods.
Threats: Sensitive to entanglement in fishing nets, a critical threat to their well-being. Additionally, the depletion of food resources due to extensive fishing activities
The Cetacean species in the North Sea are: Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), White-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris), and Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus). In the North Sea they feed on Herring, Mackerel, Sandeel and Demersal Fish. Their well-being is significantly affected by noise, and they actively avoid surface disturbance. Additionally, they are often seen as by-catch in drift & fixed nets fishing.
Cetacean is a month-by-month, computer generated data layer following calculations made by the ecosystem simulation (EwE). For more information on how Ecopath-with-Ecosim (EwE) works, please visit our Wiki page or visit the official EwE website at https://ecopath.org.
For detailed information on how the simulation works for the North Sea Edition, we recommend further exploring our research publication called "Combining ecosystem modeling with serious gaming in support of transboundary maritime spatial planning".
Not applicable. This layer is not yet available in the MSP Challenge Baltic Sea Edition.
Add species types in the EwE
In the Clyde Marine Region cetaceans feed on Sandeel and their well-being is significantly affected by noise, and they actively avoid surface disturbance.
For detailed information on how the simulation works for the Clyde Marine Region Edition, we recommend further exploring our research publication called "Combining ecosystem modeling with serious gaming in support of transboundary maritime spatial planning".
Not applicable. This layer is not yet available in the MSP Challenge Adriatic Sea Edition.
Add species EwE
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