Distribution and feeding ecology of dolphins along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Iceland and the Azores

During Leg 1 of the MAR-ECO expedition on the R.V. G.O. Sars in June 2004 four main species of dolphins were observed along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge from Iceland to the Azores: pilot whale (Globicephala melas) (n=326), short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) (n=273), white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus) (n=103), and striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) (n=86). Pilot whales and white-sided dolphins were found in cold (5–16 °C) and less-saline (34.6–35.8‰) water masses in the northern part of the study area, whereas common and striped dolphins inhabited warmer (12–22 °C) and more-saline (34.8–36.7‰) waters in the south. Dolphins tended to aggregate in areas of steep slopes, but actual bottom depth appeared to be less important. Based on spatial correlations between dolphin occurrence and candidate prey organisms recorded acoustically and by midwater trawling, mesopelagic fishes and squids were assumed to be important prey items, with Benthosema glaciale probably being the most important prey for pilot whales and white-sided dolphins, while Lampanyctus macdonaldi, Stomias boa ferox and Chauliodus sloani were probably of particular importance for common dolphins. Cephalopods, especially Gonatus sp. and Teuthowenia megalops were the most likely prey species of pilot whales and striped dolphins, respectively. The difference in physical habitat north and south of the Sub-polar Frontal Zone seemed to have important effects on prey distribution, in turn influencing dolphin distribution.