摘要 : 1. The Pelagos Sanctuary is the largest marine protected area of the Mediterranean Sea (87 500km2), and islocated in the north‐west part of the basin. The presence of the bottlenose dolphin in this area is well documentedbut its ... 展开 1. The Pelagos Sanctuary is the largest marine protected area of the Mediterranean Sea (87 500km2), and islocated in the north‐west part of the basin. The presence of the bottlenose dolphin in this area is well documentedbut its distribution and abundance are not well known. 2. The present study collected and analysed data from 10 different research groups operating in the PelagosSanctuary from 1994 to 2007. Photo‐identification data were used to analyse the displacement behaviour of thedolphins and to estimate their abundance through mark–recapture modelling. 3. Results show that the distribution of bottlenose dolphin is confined to the continental shelf within the 200misobath, with a preference for shallow waters of less than 100m depth. 4. Bottlenose dolphins seem to be more densely present in the eastern part of the sanctuary and along the north‐westcoast of Corsica. 5. Bottlenose dolphins show a residential attitude with excursions usually within a distance of 80km (50km onaverage). A few dolphins exhibit more wide‐ranging journeys, travelling up to 427km between sub‐areas. 6. The displacement analysis identified two (sub)populations of bottlenose dolphins, one centred on the easternpart of the sanctuary and the other one around the west coast of Corsica. 7. In 2006, the eastern (sub)population was estimated to comprise 510–552 individuals, while 368–429individuals were estimated in the Corsican (sub)population. It was estimated that in total, 884–1023 bottlenosedolphins were living in the Pelagos Sanctuary MPA in the same year. 8. The designation of a number of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) under theHabitatsDirective is discussedas a possible tool to protect the bottlenose dolphin in the Pelagos Sanctuary and in thewhole of theMediterranean Sea. 收起