Characterizing Habitat Suitability of Long‐Finned Pilot Whales in a Key Conservation Region of the Southern Iberian Peninsula Using Satellite Tracking Data

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ABSTRACT The waters surrounding the southern Iberian Peninsula are a key conservation area for the long‐finned pilot whale ( Globicephala melas melas ), particularly in the pelagic regions of the Strait of Gibraltar, the Alboran Sea, and the Gulf of Vera, where upwelling, complex bathymetry and frontal dynamics enhance productivity and prey availability, attracting cetaceans year‐round. This study presents the first published satellite tracking data for this species in the Mediterranean Sea, with six individuals tracked between March and November 2011 (21–93 days; 235–410 filtered locations per individual). We used boosted regression trees to model habitat suitability and identify the environmental factors associated with the distribution of long‐finned pilot whales. To evaluate the relative importance of physiographic features and oceanographic conditions, we fitted three models using static predictors, dynamic predictors, and both combined. The combined model showed the highest predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.87), followed by the static‐only (0.86) and dynamic‐only models (0.73). Habitat suitability was primarily driven by bathymetry and distance to shore, with whales preferentially using the continental slope (500–1500 m depth) near the shelf break. Among oceanographic variables, eastward surface currents were positively associated with habitat suitability, likely reflecting Atlantic inflow sustaining frontal systems and prey aggregation in the Alboran Sea. These findings can inform conservation planning and prioritization within existing protected areas.

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