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Diversity
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Biology, Biodiversity and Conservation of Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles
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Biology, Biodiversity and Conservation of Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Diversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2025) | Viewed by 4829

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Guido Pietroluongo

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Guest Editor
Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
Interests: marine animal pathology; anthropic threats; conservation policy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Tommaso Gerussi

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Guest Editor
Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
Interests: marine animals anatomy; neuroanatomy; advanced technology
Dr. Cinzia Centelleghe

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Guest Editor
Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
Interests: marine mammal pathology and diseases; new techniques; cell culture techniques
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The scope of this Special Issue is to share scientific contributions about marine mammals and sea turtles focusing on their biology, ecology, and conservation. Worldwide marine animal populations are facing pressing threats and understanding their critical role in maintaining the health of our planet has become an urgent priority, as viewed through a One Health perspective. Scientists are exploring the extraordinary adaptations of these species to human and natural changes, utilizing the latest advances in marine biology technology and enabling comprehensive research on marine animals like never before.

Today, numerous challenges exist in studying and protecting the components of the marine trophic web at various levels, ranging from the smallest turtle hatchlings to majestic whales. Furthermore, conservation policies are shedding light on innovative solutions for monitoring marine biodiversity and establishing actions to recover endangered species. Multidisciplinary results are essential in bridging the knowledge gap on the biodiversity and biology of marine species, illustrating conservation strategies and actions for the protection of the marine ecosystem.

This Special Issue serves as a comprehensive resource for scientists, conservationists, policymakers, and anyone deeply committed to marine conservation for the benefit of generations to come.

Dr. Guido Pietroluongo
Dr. Tommaso Gerussi
Dr. Cinzia Centelleghe
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • marine mammals
  • sea turtles
  • endangered species
  • biology
  • ecology
  • conservation

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 9941 KiB  
Article
Cetacean Conservation in the Pelagos Sanctuary: Status and Proposal for Its Improvement
by Erica Stoppa, Francesca Grossi, Léa David, Nathalie Di-Meglio, Marine Roul, Antonella Arcangeli, Eugenia Pasanisi, Ilaria Campana, Miriam Paraboschi, Alberto Castelli, Eleonora Pignata, Massimiliano Rosso, Aurelie Moulins and Paola Tepsich
Diversity 2025, 17(3), 174; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17030174 - 28 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1641
Abstract
The Pelagos Sanctuary hosts eight resident cetacean species. Genetically different from Atlantic populations, their conservation is essential to preserve the whole biodiversity of the Ligurian Sea. The NATURA 2000 network is currently identified as one of the most efficient conservation tools due to [...] Read more.
The Pelagos Sanctuary hosts eight resident cetacean species. Genetically different from Atlantic populations, their conservation is essential to preserve the whole biodiversity of the Ligurian Sea. The NATURA 2000 network is currently identified as one of the most efficient conservation tools due to its legally binding nature; however, its effectiveness for cetacean preservation is still unclear. The study used data systematically collected within the Pelagos Sanctuary from 2008 to 2021 by the FLT Med Net and the LIFE Conceptu Maris projects to investigate cetaceans distribution, Richness and diversity related to the existing protected areas. Of the 423 hexagons considered, only 21.28% of the study area was covered by French NATURA 2000 sites and 9.22% by Italian sites. French NATURA 2000 sites had the highest coverage of weighted Encounter Rate (ER_w) and biodiversity values. Only three species showed statistically significant differences between the French and Italian protected and non-protected hexagons, and biodiversity showed no significant difference. Only T. truncatus had higher median over Italian protected hexagons. The Pelagos Sanctuary still lacks offshore NATURA 2000 sites, especially in Italian waters. For this reason, areas to amplify the Network aimed at increasing cetacean and biodiversity conservation were highlighted in the results of this study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology, Biodiversity and Conservation of Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles)
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10 pages, 1412 KiB  
Article
Foraging Resource Partitioning in the California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) from the Southwestern Gulf of California
by Fernando R. Elorriaga-Verplancken, Arturo B. Enríquez-García and Romyna A. Cruz-Vallejo
Diversity 2025, 17(3), 166; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17030166 - 26 Feb 2025
Viewed by 395
Abstract
California sea lion (CSL, Zalophus californianus) abundance has declined in different localities across this species’ Mexican distribution. However, Los Islotes rookery in the southwestern Gulf of California (GoC) deviates from this pattern. It is vital to gather ecological knowledge of this CSL [...] Read more.
California sea lion (CSL, Zalophus californianus) abundance has declined in different localities across this species’ Mexican distribution. However, Los Islotes rookery in the southwestern Gulf of California (GoC) deviates from this pattern. It is vital to gather ecological knowledge of this CSL settlement and its surroundings to better understand its population in the GoC. This study aimed to determine the foraging habits of different CSL sex and age classes. Sixty-five CSL samples were collected in Los Islotes and its surroundings for stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ15N). The data were analyzed using a hierarchical Bayesian model, and isotopic areas were estimated using the SIBER package in R. Our findings evidenced resource partitioning. Adult females had lower δ15N values than most classes, reflecting the regional 15N-enrichment of the GoC. Conversely, subadult males showed low δ15N values, carrying foraging information from the 15N-depleted Pacific Ocean into the GoC. Adult males presented the highest δ15N values (after pups), suggesting a higher trophic position than adult females and values corresponding to the GoC. Moreover, juveniles had the most negative δ13C values and the largest isotopic areas, indicating offshore foraging habits and a mixed consumption of maternal milk and their first prey. Pups showed the highest mean δ15N value due to maternal milk consumption, reflecting the mother’s δ15N value and their enrichment. Our findings suggest that segregation is explained by unique life history traits and a possible strategy to avoid potential competition Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology, Biodiversity and Conservation of Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles)
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20 pages, 4526 KiB  
Article
First Photo-Identification Study of the Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in the Aeolian Archipelago and the Northern Coast of Sicily (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy)
by Agata Irene Di Paola, Michelle Gelippi and Monica Francesca Blasi
Diversity 2025, 17(3), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17030147 - 21 Feb 2025
Viewed by 505
Abstract
(1) While photo-identification has been used to study sperm whales worldwide, no long-term photo-id studies are available from the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea for the Mediterranean endangered population. (2) Here, sperm whale occurrence, group size, and the type of encounters were investigated around the [...] Read more.
(1) While photo-identification has been used to study sperm whales worldwide, no long-term photo-id studies are available from the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea for the Mediterranean endangered population. (2) Here, sperm whale occurrence, group size, and the type of encounters were investigated around the Aeolian archipelago (Southern Italy) by photo-ID data collected between 2013 and 2024. Data were obtained through dedicated boat surveys and recreational sailors’ reports. (3) During 58 sighting events, 125 sperm whales were encountered, 60 of whom were photo-identified and cataloged. Of these, two sperm whales were found entangled. Only five individuals were re-sighted in later years or seasons. Encounters were more frequent in autumn, consisting mainly of solitary individuals (53.4%, n = 31) and aggregations of clustered, often not sexed, animals (23.5%, n = 8). Social units of females and calves were also encountered (8.6%, n = 5). (4) The low site fidelity and the group types encountered suggest that dispersed young males and social groups could use the area simultaneously. (4) Future matching of these data with databases from other surveyed areas, acoustic surveys, and enhanced analysis of age classes are crucial to better define the ecological role of the study area for the Mediterranean sperm whale population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology, Biodiversity and Conservation of Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles)
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10 pages, 2397 KiB  
Article
Elucidating the Origins of Stranded Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) in the Eastern Mediterranean through Mitochondrial DNA Mixed-Stock Analysis
by Arzu Kaska, Tugçe Binen, Dogan Sözbilen, Robin Snape, Annette Broderick, Brendan Godley, Damla Beton, Meryem Ozkan, Carlos Carreras and Yakup Kaska
Diversity 2024, 16(9), 583; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16090583 - 14 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1398
Abstract
It is widely recognized that the examination of haplotypes among sea turtles inhabiting nesting beaches holds significant importance. Yet, an effective conservation effort of a population also requires an investigation of the origin of sea turtles that strand on the shore, especially as [...] Read more.
It is widely recognized that the examination of haplotypes among sea turtles inhabiting nesting beaches holds significant importance. Yet, an effective conservation effort of a population also requires an investigation of the origin of sea turtles that strand on the shore, especially as many of these result from interactions with fisheries. In consideration of this, we analyzed the haplotypes of 542 stranded individuals from the Eastern Mediterranean and identified a total of 9 different haplotypes. Two of these were new haplotypes, one individual was found in Marmaris, Türkiye, and the other in a stranded species in northern Cyprus. Mixed-stock analysis demonstrated that the majority of the individuals stranded in western Türkiye originated from nesting beaches in the same area (33%), followed by Dalyan, Türkiye (25%), and Cyprus (21%). The partial mixed-stock analysis of individuals stranded in the Dalyan–Dalaman region of Türkiye revealed that most originated from Dalaman (45%) and Dalyan (21%), followed by western Greece (11%). The partial mixed-stock analysis for the Eastern Mediterranean showed that the majority of individuals originated from western Türkiye (69%), followed by Cyprus (11%) and Dalyan (7%). These findings, by quantifying the relative contributions of each region, provide valuable insights for guiding conservation efforts regarding Caretta caretta in the Mediterranean marine environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology, Biodiversity and Conservation of Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles)
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