First Documented Use of Caves along the Coast of Albania by Mediterranean Monk Seals. Ecological and Conservation Inferences

The information on habitat use by the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) on the coast of Albania has so far been limited to vague and general data. During a survey conducted along the coast of the National Marine Park Karaburun-Sazan in August 2019, we identified two marine caves with optimal geomorphological characteristics for use by the species. A monk seal scat was recovered in one of them. These two caves were subsequently equipped with infrared cameras. After about a year of monitoring, we obtained photographic material confirming such use. This is the very first documentation of the use of marine caves by the species in Albania. The scat sample was analysed for trophic and anthropogenic contamination (microplastics) data. The inferences resulting from the analyses of the above data provide additional information on the ecology of the species and also for its conservation which need to be contextualized on an Adriatic-Ionian region scale.