Download or read book Advancing Baleen Whale Acoustic and Habitat Monitoring in the Northwest Atlantic written by Hansen Dalmasse Johnson and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Baleen whales of the Northwest Atlantic live in an urbanized ocean. They attempt a slow recovery from commercial whaling amid threats from the infrastructure, pollution, and shifting environmental baseline associated with human exploitation of the natural world. Current risk mitigation strategies all rely on a comprehensive knowledge of whale distribution, which is difficult to obtain given limited resources, a vast ocean, and the cryptic nature of whale behaviour. This thesis strives to advance baleen whale monitoring with passive acoustics, habitat ecology, and new technology. Chapters 2 and 3 use several different approaches to improve the quality and interpretation of data derived from passive acoustic monitoring. Chapter 4 introduces "WhaleMap", a tool for rapidly collating and displaying whale survey results to inform dynamic research and management activities. Chapters 5 and 6 characterize associations among baleen whale species and their oceanographic habitat to identify priority areas and times for increased monitoring and/or risk mitigation. Particular focus is paid to the North Atlantic right whale because their dire conservation status motivates much of this work, but in many cases the results apply to other baleen whale species. It is our hope that the monitoring advancements put forward by this thesis lead directly to improved conservation outcomes that help preserve these species for generations to come.

Download or read book Habitat Use of Calling Baleen Whales in the Southern California Current Ecosystem written by Elizabeth Tram Anh Vu and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 188 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The extent to which temporal, spatial, environmental, and physiological factors influence baleen whale acoustic occurrence was investigated in the southern California Current Ecosystem, a highly productive, upwelling-driven ecosystem that hosts a large abundance of top predators. By combining data sets from ten years of passive acoustic monitoring and concurrent environmental sampling, this dissertation presents detailed intra-annual and mesoscale spatial patterns previously unknown. Analyses of temporal acoustic patterns revealed different acoustic occupancy by three species: blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), and fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus). The temporal separation between blue whale feeding and breeding call types showed a shift between behavioral states throughout the year. The temporal separation between blue and humpback whale reproductive calls showed different displays of reproductive calling behavior despite their overlapping migratory and seasonal reproductive cycles. Spatial patterns revealed different onshore and offshore occupancy, dependent on season, for each species. The reconciliation between acoustic and visual seasonal abundance demonstrated an increase in individual-level acoustic reproductive display during or approaching the mating season of each species. Analyses of habitat factors on call types from each species identified association of seasonality, bathymetry, sea surface temperature, and mixed layer depth with calling behavior. Generalized additive mixed models of acoustic calling revealed significant responses to seasonality and bathymetry at three different spatial scales, indicating the importance of these factors in explaining baleen whale distribution at broad scales. Lastly, a possible physiological driver of acoustic behavior was investigated by quantifying seasonal hormone concentrations in humpback whale blubber. The results of this research advance scientific understanding of yearlong acoustic cetacean occurrence in a productive oceanographic habitat and provide additional insight into the reproduction and migration of these species.

Download or read book Passive Acoustic Monitoring of Cetaceans written by Walter M. X. Zimmer and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2011-04-21 with total page 367 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Passive acoustic monitoring is increasingly used by the scientific community to study, survey and census marine mammals, especially cetaceans, many of which are easier to hear than to see. PAM is also used to support efforts to mitigate potential negative effects of human activities such as ship traffic, military and civilian sonar and offshore exploration. Walter Zimmer provides an integrated approach to PAM, combining physical principles, discussion of technical tools and application-oriented concepts of operations. Additionally, relevant information and tools necessary to assess existing and future PAM systems are presented, with Matlab code used to generate figures and results so readers can reproduce data and modify code to analyse the impact of changes. This allows the principles to be studied whilst discovering potential difficulties and side effects. Aimed at graduate students and researchers, the book provides all information and tools necessary to gain a comprehensive understanding of this interdisciplinary subject.

Download or read book HUMPBACK WHALE SINGING BEHAVIOUR IN THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC written by Katie Kowarski and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Marine passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is a valuable tool to assess the distribution, habitat use, and behaviour of marine mammals including the acoustically prolific humpback whale. With increasing amounts of data collected, the challenge of effectively mining PAM data for signals of interest and interpreting those signals is faced by researchers globally. I completed a literature review on the data analysis methods employed in PAM baleen whale studies (2000-2019) before exploring the dynamic and complex humpback repertoire, which is particularly challenging for PAM. The review revealed a spectrum of methodologies ranging from full manual data analysis by a human to fully automated techniques. I propose recommendations for future work to encourage the application of best practices that will result in more robust and comparable research. Humpback whale vocalizations have been studied for years, but little is known of when, where, and how seasonal male singing begins in the fall and ends in the spring. Acoustic recordings of humpback whale vocalizations from Canada, the U.S.A, and the Caribbean in 2015-2017 were manually analysed. Humpback whales were present from Labrador to Massachusetts Bay during the fall and early winter. Song development occurred gradually over weeks with vocalizations transitioning from non-song calls to song fragments to full songs. Initially sporadic in occurrence, singing began in September, but was not regularly heard until late October, when full songs were common. I found evidence that the onset of regular singing occurs earlier at lower latitudes, longer photoperiods, and higher temperatures. The theme order in early season full songs was variable, until December when theme order became more consistent with what was observed the previous spring. Dominican Republic breeding ground songs recorded in January and March were crystalized in terms of theme order. Song duration increased gradually through the breeding season. Spring song cessation was only captured at a single site/season in Canada and compared to song development, it was abrupt with few song fragments. These late season songs had consistent theme orders. I propose that the patterns observed here may in part be driven by physiological processes like those of songbirds.

Download or read book Ethology and Behavioral Ecology of Mysticetes written by Christopher W. Clark and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2022-07-02 with total page 390 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this book, an international team of leading marine mammal scientists, with a remarkably diverse set of backgrounds and areas of expertise, lead you through a synthesis of current knowledge on baleen whales. Baleen whales are the largest animals ever to have lived on this planet. They also have the lowest and most intense voices on Earth, most likely evolved to take advantage of ocean acoustic transmission conditions so as to be detectable across ocean basins. Some baleen whales can live to be 150-200 years old. They migrate many thousands of kilometers between feeding and breeding areas. They produce songs and calls that serve as behavioral foundations for establishing, maintaining and expanding their cultural identities. To conclude that we know the behavioral limits of these large brained, long-lived animals would be naïve. As baleen whale scientists, we are still beginning to comprehend the enormous complexities and natural histories of these remarkable animals. Today, the fact that whales sing is known throughout much of the world. This awareness started 50 years ago with the publication and popularization of a collection of humpback song recordings that motivated research into baleen whale behavioral ethology. In this book’s chapters, a reader’s experiences will stretch from learning about baleen whale laryngeal anatomy associated with their different voices to learning about the vast ocean areas over which their voices can be heard and the emerging complexities of their culturally defined societies. These are accompanied by chapters on the fundamental ethological contexts of socializing, migrating, and foraging. Two common themes permeate the book. One theme highlights the phenomenal increase in scientific knowledge achieved through technological advancements. The other theme recognizes the impacts of human-made activities on ocean acoustic environments and the resultant influences on the health and survival of individual whales and their populations. Although the book is intentionally ambitious in its scope, as scientists, we fully recognize that baleen whale science is still in its infancy. Many profound revelations await discovery by cohorts of young, multi-talented explorers, some of whom are stretching their wings in this volume and some of whom are reading these scientific stories for the first time.

Download or read book Right Whale Habitat and Migration in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean written by and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study successfully used OSU-developed Argos implantable satellite-monitored radio tags to collect location data on large endangered whale species. These data were used determine feeding and migratory movements, and characterize critical habitats. Whales studied included Hawaiian humpback whales, Eastern North Pacific blue whales, North Atlantic right whales, Sea of Cortez fin whales, and Gulf of Mexico sperm whales. Oregon State University leads the field worldwide in tag longevity and reliability; the longest-running tags to date are on Gulf of Mexico sperm whales and have transmitted for 20 months so far.

Download or read book Habitats Important to Blue Whales Balaenoptera Musculus in the Western North Atlantic written by V. Lesage and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 51 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Temporal and Spatial Distributions of Baleen Whales in Central New Zealand Based on Passive Acoustic Monitoring written by Victoria Warren and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Effective management of wild animal populations relies on an understanding of their spatio-temporal distributions, and how they overlap with threats. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is a non-invasive method to investigate the distribution of free-ranging species that reliably produce sound, and soundscape analysis enables an integrated approach whereby vocal species are sampled concurrently with ambient environmental information. Physical and acoustic overlaps between soundscape contributors can highlight potential interactions and threats. Worldwide, the distributions of baleen whales have proven difficult to study due to logistical constraints imposed by their offshore distributions and limited surface time. However, many baleen whales reliably produce stereotyped sound, and are therefore suitable to study acoustically. In the western South Pacific, weather and sea conditions have particularly constrained understanding of baleen whale distributions. Here, four acoustic recorders were deployed in the marine environment around central New Zealand to elucidate the spatio-temporal distributions of " ̃data deficient' baleen whales that frequent the region. The recorded data featured notable acoustic contributions from several baleen whale species. Seismic surveys, shipping and earthquakes overlapped in time, space, and frequency with baleen whale vocalisations, highlighting potential risks and stressors in New Zealand waters. An acoustic approach enabled pygmy blue whales (PBWs) to be distinguished from " ̃critically endangered' Antarctic blue whales (ABWs). PBWs were detected in the South Taranaki Bight (STB) throughout recording periods, and detection area modelling demonstrated that an aggregation of PBWs likely occurs in the STB; an industrial area. ABWs and humpback whales migrated through central New Zealand seasonally, with both species generally travelling north through Cook Strait and the STB, rather than along the east coast of the North Island. ABWs were also detected during their breeding season. Based on song content, the humpback whales were likely migrating to breed in New Caledonia, or East Australia, and song transmission may occur between the two breeding populations in the New Zealand migratory corridor. This study highlights the utility of PAM to map the distributions of free-ranging species and potential stressors, which can be challenging to study via alternative methods. Such data are essential to underpin conservation and management decisions.

Download or read book Blue and Fin Whale Acoustics and Ecology Off Antarctic Peninsula written by Ana Širović and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 143 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) and fin whales (B. physalus) in the Southern Ocean were subjects of extensive whaling industry during the twentieth century. Their current population numbers remain low, making population monitoring using traditional visual surveys difficult. Both blue and fin whales produce low frequency, regularly repeated calls and are suitable for acoustic monitoring. Eight continuously recording acoustic recorders were deployed off the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) between March 2001 and February 2003. Ranges to calling blue and fin whales were calculated using hyperbolic localization and multipath arrivals up to the distances of 200 and 56 km., respectively. Calls of both species had high intensity, blue whales calls had the average source level 189±3dB re: 1[mu]Pa at 1 meter and the average fin whale call source level was 189±4dB re: 1[mu]Pa at 1 meter. Automatic call detection methods were used for analysis of calling blue and fin whale seasonal presence and habitat preferences. Blue whale calls were detected year round (on average 177 days/year) with peak calling in March and April and a secondary peak in October and November. Fin whale calling rates were seasonal with calls detected between February and June (on average 51 days/year) with a peak in May. During the entire deployment period, detected calls from both species showed negative correlation with sea ice concentrations. Baleen whale sounds were recorded during multiple cruises off the Antarctic Peninsula using sonobuoys. Recordings from two fall cruises off the WAP were used for analyses of habitat preferences of calling blue and fin whales. The presence of calling blue whales was positively correlated with bottom depth and sea surface temperature and negatively correlated with krill biomass in the top 100 meters and abundance of the rest of the zooplankton at depth (101-300 meters). Locations of fin whale calls were associated with a deep trough area and high Chl-a concentrations. Distribution of baleen whale calls recorded in the Scotia Sea (east of the Antarctic Peninsula) indicated that fin whales occur in open water, and blue, southern right (Eubalaena australis), minke (B. bonaerensis), and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) occur near islands or close to the ice edge.

Download or read book Assessing Changing Baleen Whale Distributions and Incidents Relative to Vessel Activity written by Hannah Solway and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Baleen whales in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean (NWA) are increasingly affected by human pressures related to vessel activity, fisheries entanglement, and climate change. Vessel strikes and entanglement in fishing gear, in particular, often result in distress, injury, or death for these animals. These negative interactions or 'incidents' are consistently reported to marine animal response organizations throughout Atlantic Canada but have not yet been analyzed for scientific publication. Using all available incident reports, together with opportunistic sightings data, vessel activity data, and habitat suitability projections from species distribution models, I analysed areas where baleen whales are vulnerable to vessel-related incidents both now and in the near future. Current incident reduction strategies were also reviewed, and their present and likely future success was assessed based on my findings. Results suggest that cross-species areas of high current and future habitat suitability are strongly dependent on sea surface salinity and temperature and primarily exist in the Bay of Fundy, Scotian Shelf, Laurentian Channel, Flemish Cap, and Gulf of St. Lawrence. Areas where all species of baleen whales are vulnerable to incidents occur close to densely populated areas, around major shipping channels and fishing areas. Baleen whales may also be more vulnerable than expected to incidents involving small vessels. While some of these high-risk areas have mitigation efforts in place, they likely require new measures to ensure the safety of all species of baleen whale present there now and in the future.

Download or read book Using Passive Acoustic Data to Track Changes in Baleen Whale Distribution Throughout the Western North Atlantic Ocean written by Genevieve E. Davis and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Clicks and Currents written by Rebecca Emily Cohen and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The western North Atlantic is a dynamic region characterized by the Gulf Stream western boundary current and inhabited by a diverse host of odontocete, or toothed whale, top predators. Their habitats are highly exploited by commercial fisheries, shipping, marine energy extraction, and naval exercises, subjecting them to a variety of potentially harmful interactions. Many of these species remain poorly understood due to the difficulties of observing them in the pelagic environment. Their habitat utilization and the impacts of anthropogenic activities are not well known. Over the past decade, passive acoustic data has become increasingly utilized for the study of a wide variety of marine animals, and offers several advantages over traditional line-transect visual survey methods. Passive acoustic devices can be deployed at offshore monitoring sites for long periods of time, enabling detection of even rare and cryptic species across seasons and sea states, and without altering animal behaviors. Here we utilized a large passive acoustic data set collected across a latitudinal habitat gradient in the western North Atlantic to address fundamental knowledge gaps in odontocete ecology. I approached the problem of discriminating between species based on spectral and temporal features of echolocation clicks by using machine learning to identify novel click types, and then matching these click types to species using spatiotemporal correlates. I was able to identify novel click types associated with short-beaked common dolphins, Risso's dolphins, and short-finned pilot whales in this way. Next I characterized temporal patterns in presence and activity for ten different species across our monitoring sites at three different temporal scales: seasonal, lunar, and diel. I observed spatiotemporal separation of apparent competitors, and complex behavioral patterns modulated by interactions between the seasonal, lunar, and diel cycles. Finally I investigated the relationships between species presence and oceanographic covariates to predict habitat suitability across the region, and explored niche partitioning between potentially competitive species. The insights gained here significantly advance our understanding of toothed whale ecology in this region, and can be used for more effective population assessments and management in the face of anthropogenic threats and climate change.

Download or read book A Note on Baleen Whale Stocks of the North West Atlantic written by K. Radway Allen and published by . This book was released on 1969 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Large Circular Hydrophone Arrays for Long range Monitoring of North Atlantic Right Whales written by Yvan Simard and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "To respond to the needs of continuously monitoring North Atlantic Right Whales (NARW) in real time over large areas of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, performance studies using simulations of in situ conditions have concluded that the optimal passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) systems were large circular hydrophone arrays. To accomplish this PAM challenge and position the whales in their habitat, two prototypes of such circular hydrophone arrays, 20 m in diameter, were designed, built, and tested off the Gaspé peninsula in the summer of 2021. This report presents the characteristics of this new PAM technology, used for the first time to track low frequency calling whales over large-scale sensitive areas of their habitats. These large apparatus were positioned on the seafloor, at significant distances from the coast, and depths exceeding human diver ranges. The deployment techniques, involving coordinated boats, are detailed. The approach used is discussed and recommendations for further improvements are provided. Examples of preliminary results confirming the performance studies are presented for several species of baleen whales and a transiting merchant ship. Further steps for real-time implementation will be detailed in further contributions from this research project "--Abstract, page vi.

Download or read book Passive Acoustic Monitoring to Identify Drivers of Beluga Whale Habitat Use in the Mackenzie Estuary written by Kevin Scharffenberg and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Understanding drivers of habitat use of mobile species is critical for understanding the impacts of climate change and formulating management plans. Eastern Beaufort Sea (EBS) beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas), an important subsistence food source for Inuvialuit, are known to form large aggregations in the Mackenzie Estuary each summer; however, environmental drivers of this habitat use are not understood. Passive acoustic monitoring was used to record beluga presence during this aggregation at key locations in the Mackenzie Estuary, while simultaneously recording environmental and oceanographic data. Belugas moved further into the estuary during cold oceanic influxes and did not use locations which typically see high use during high-speed winds. In an extreme case, a large storm prevented belugas from using the area for five days and negatively affected the subsistence beluga hunt. This information can inform decisions by northern communities and policy makers, aiding in management of the EBS beluga population.

Download or read book The Northern Right Whale written by United States. National Marine Fisheries Service and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 2 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America written by Acoustical Society of America and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 1672 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: