The goal of MONICEPH is to monitor cephalopod pieces found at the surface of the water in the Azores in order to study (i) the diet of cephalopod-eating cetaceans, (sperm whales, but also pilot whales, beaked whales and Risso's dolphins) and (ii) the ecology of deep-water cephalopods.

METHOD

Whale-watching companies are collecting cephalopod pieces found at the surface of the ocean.

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First pictures are taken to help identify the species and understand which part of the cephalopod has been eaten.

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Then the beak (if present) and a piece of muscle is stored for later species identification, including DNA barcoding analysis.

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Additional data collected includes GPS coordinates, time, date and the species, gender, number and behaviour of cetaceans observed in the area.

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RECORD OF SAMPLES

Cephalopods pieces found in the water of Sao Miguel island, Azores

here

COLLABORATIONS

CONTACTS

University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada

stephanie.ra.suciu@uac.pt

+351 914 892 298