Diet Of English Channel Cetaceans Stranded On The Coast Of Normandy

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During 1998–2003 stomach contents of 47 cetacean were obtained from strandings on the coast of Normandy. These animals were examined by a veterinary network an stomach contents were analysed at the University of Caen: 26 common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), 4 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) 7 harbour porpoises (Phocoena phoecoena) and 5 grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) 2 long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) 1 white beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) 1 minke whale (Balaenoptera acurostrata) 1 Stenella coeruleoalba. Food items determination was based on hard parts (i.e., fish otoliths and cephalopod beaks). Diet indices were computed including prey frequency and percentage by number. Common dolphins eat mainly gadoid fish (Trisopterus sp), gobies and mackerel. Cephalpods occur in small numbers and fished Cephalopod species (cuttlefish and common squid) are scarce. The results are analysed in the light of previously published data and the food regime of English Channel top predators is compared to the one of other populations.