Rendell L, Frantzis A
Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, United Kingdom.
Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute, Vouliagmeni, Greece.
Adv Mar Biol. 2016;75:37-74. doi: 10.1016/bs.amb.2016.08.001. Epub 2016 Sep 28.
First observed in the classical era, a population of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) persists to this day in the deep waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Genetic and observational evidence support the notion that this is an isolated population, separated from its Atlantic neighbours. These whales depend on mesopelagic squid for food, and appear to occupy a very similar ecological niche to sperm whales in the open oceans. Recent evidence proving that individuals can pass between the eastern and western deep water basins confirms that this is a single population, not isolated into western and eastern stocks. We lack robust information on their population status, but they could number in the hundreds rather than thousands, and current densities appear to be much lower than those reported in the 1950s, suggesting that we should be very concerned about the conservation status of this population. This makes it vitally important to address the serious threats posed by ship strikes and entanglement in fishing nets, especially driftnets, and to carefully monitor other potential sources of anthropogenic impact. A step change in funding to collect better data and a clear shift in policy priorities are needed if we are to be serious about conserving this population.
早在古典时代就已被发现，如今仍有一群抹香鲸（Physeter macrocephalus）生活在地中海的深水区。遗传和观测证据支持这样一种观点，即这是一个与大西洋的同类隔离的孤立种群。这些鲸鱼以中层水域的鱿鱼为食，并且在生态位上似乎与公海中的抹香鲸非常相似。最近有证据表明个体可以在东西部深水区盆地之间穿梭，这证实了这是一个单一的种群,而非被分割成西部和东部种群。我们缺乏关于它们种群状况的确切信息，但它们的数量可能只有数百头而非数千头，而且目前的密度似乎远低于20世纪50年代的报告水平，这表明我们应该非常关注这个种群的保护状况。因此，应对船只撞击和被渔网缠住（尤其是流网）所带来的严重威胁，并仔细监测其他潜在的人为影响源至关重要。如果我们要认真保护这个种群，就需要在资金投入上有一个飞跃，以便收集更好的数据，并且在政策重点上有一个明确的转变。
