Download or read book Movement Ecology of Humpback Whales in the South Pacific written by Leena Riekkola and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Determining the distribution, movements and habitat use of animals is fundamental to understanding their ecology and the development of effective conservation measures. However, studying animals that migrate thousands of kilometres and inhabit remote and inaccessible areas is extremely difficult, especially in the marine environment. The Oceania humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) population has been slow to recover from the effects of commercial whaling, and our understanding of what may influence this slow recovery has been limited by a lack of knowledge about the whales outside of their tropical breeding grounds. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the migratory movements, patterns of Antarctic feeding ground habitat use and energetics of Oceania humpback whales as they migrated from the South Pacific to the Southern Ocean. Satellite tags were deployed on 25 humpback whales on their southern migration past the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand, in September and October 2015. Photo-identification and genetic data were collected to assign breeding ground origins and to determine the pregnancy rate and age-profile of the population. The whales’ migratory paths and behavioural states were investigated by applying a hierarchical state-space model to the satellite telemetry data. These data were used in linear mixed-effect models to elucidate ecological relationships between whale behaviour and the environment within the remote Southern Ocean feeding grounds. The tag data, and data from two whales tagged in east Australia, were also used to inform a bioenergetic model to estimate the relative energetic cost of different migratory routes and distances. The Kermadec Islands were an important aggregation point for Oceania’s humpback whales from a range of breeding grounds spanning ~3,500 km of ocean, almost the entire breeding ground range, as they migrated south to their Southern Ocean summer feeding grounds. The age profile of the whales (mean = 14 years) and a high (57%) pregnancy rate indicated a recovering population. The whales migrated to two key feeding areas, the Ross Sea and the Amundsen and Bellingshausen Seas (~2,000 km apart), the choice of which was influenced by the presence of a calf, as mothers with calves migrated a shorter distance to the Ross Sea region. There were marked differences in the environmental features between the two areas (e.g. oceanic vs near continental shelf) and consequently the whales used these areas differently. Overall, time lagged ice-edge dynamics were identified as a key environmental feature influencing the whales’ foraging behaviour, along with season and sea surface height. Whales with the longest migration distance migrated the fastest (97 km/day vs71 km/day) and had the highest cost of transport, but this was offset by energy savings in terms of daily maintenance costs by using 11% fewer days to complete the migration, suggesting that migration distance alone is not a limiting factor to population recovery. Whilst there is no doubt that a complex set of variables is affecting the Oceania humpback whale population recovery, the findings of this thesis have improved our understanding of the whales and their movement ecology once they depart from their breeding grounds. Furthermore, understanding the movement patterns and habitat use of this large predator also improves our knowledge of the remote Southern Ocean ecosystem and the changes occurring within it as a result of climate change. With such a wide geographic longitudinal range of feeding grounds (~4,000 km span) behavioural plasticity may play a critical role in the whales’ ability to adapt to the environmental changes, therefore affecting the species’ future recovery. This work further highlights the value of bio-logging in providing opportunities to advance ecological research.
Download or read book Spatial Ecology of Humpback Whales in the South Pacific written by Rebecca Elizabeth Lindsay and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Hawaii s Humpback Whales written by Gregory Dean Kaufman and published by . This book was released on 1993-10 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Behavioral Physical and Acoustic Characteristics of Humpback Whales Megaptera Novaeangliae at Argus Island written by Coleman Levenson and published by . This book was released on 1969 with total page 26 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A study of the behavioral, physical, and acoustic characteristics of humpback whales was conducted at Argus Island Tower near Bermuda during April 1968. Swimming and diving habits were observed and photographed, and underwater sounds produced by the whales were recorded. Whale behavior at the surface prior to diving varied according to the time span of the succeeding dives. Information concerning the range of variation in physical appearance was sufficient to improve the quality of current visual identification aids. Preliminary analysis of humpback sounds indicates components at frequencies as high as 8kHz. (Author).
Download or read book Humpback Whales of the South West Pacific written by Glenn Edney and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale written by and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Toward the Social and Acoustic Ecology of Social Foraging Humpback Whales Megaptera Novaeangliae in Southeast Alaska written by Sean Frederick Thurman Hanser and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 400 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Humpback Whales in Glacier Bay National Monument Alaska written by United States. Marine Mammal Commission and published by Good Press. This book was released on 2023-09-17 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 'Humpback Whales in Glacier Bay National Monument, Alaska,' the United States Marine Mammal Commission provides a comprehensive study on the migration patterns, behavior, and conservation status of the iconic humpback whales in this particular region. The book is written in a scientific and analytical style, with detailed observations and data analysis that contribute to our understanding of the marine ecosystem within Glacier Bay National Monument. The authors utilize a multidisciplinary approach, combining biology, ecology, and environmental science to paint a holistic picture of the humpback whale population in Alaska. This book is a valuable resource for researchers, conservationists, and anyone interested in marine mammal studies. It sheds light on the importance of preserving the delicate balance of marine life in this unique and biodiverse region. The authors, affiliated with the Marine Mammal Commission, bring a wealth of expertise and experience to the subject matter, making this book a relevant and authoritative source for marine conservation efforts. Readers will gain insight into the complex interactions between humpback whales and their environment, which will deepen their appreciation for these majestic creatures and the continued need for conservation initiatives.
Download or read book Behavior and Feeding Ecology of Humpback Whales Megaptera Novaeangliae in the Gulf of the Farallones California written by Thomas R. Kieckhefer and published by . This book was released on 1991 with total page 74 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Field Guide to the Humpback Whale written by Hannah J. Bernard and published by . This book was released on 1993 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Species Profiles Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Vertebrates and Invertebrates Pacific Ocean Region Report 2 Humpback Whale Megaptera Novaeangliae written by Eugene T. Nitta and published by . This book was released on 1989 with total page 29 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Commercial over exploitation resulted in the depletion of the North Pacific population of humpback whales. A major component of this population winters in Hawaiian waters, where reproductive activities occur. There are no apparent identifiable trends in the status of this population. This may be due to inconsistent survey effort, the imprecision of survey techniques that are unable to detect small changes, no measurable trend, or one or any combination of these factors. During the winter breeding season, humpback whales are found within the 100-fathom isobath and shallower waters around the main Hawaiian Islands. Cow-calf pairs, in particular, demonstrate an affinity for waters of less than 50 fathoms. It appears that size, depth, and substrate of shallow bank areas are important elements in the distribution of humpback whales on their wintering grounds. The sea-surface temperature in Hawaiian waters ranges from 23.2 to 24.2 C during the winter breeding season and is at the low range of water temperatures in comparison with breeding areas in other parts of the world. The major environmental impact facing humpback whales in Hawaiian waters is the loss and modification of shallow nearshore habitat to harbor, resort, and other coastal development, and the subsequent increase in human activity including vessel traffic, which may result in disturbance and displacement of humpback whales from preferred habitat. Keywords: Environmental requirements; Hawaii, Humpback whale; Life cycles. (kt).
Download or read book Movement Patterns of Foraging Humpback Whales Megaptera Novaeangliae During Summer in Southeast Alaska written by Alison M. Connors and published by . This book was released on 1992 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Movements of Humpback Whales Marked in the South West Pacific Ocean 1952 to 1962 written by W. H. Dawbin and published by . This book was released on 1964* with total page 8 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Distribution and Spatial Organization of Groups of Sperm Whales in Relation to Biological and Environmental Factors in the South Pacific written by Nathalie Jaquet and published by . This book was released on 1996 with total page 182 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Population Ecology of North Atlantic Humpback Whales written by Peter T. Stevick and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 220 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Aspects of the Foraging Ecology of Humpback Whales Megaptera Novaeangliae in Frederick Sound and Stephens Passage Southeast Alaska written by Andrew Szabo and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 137 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The North Pacific humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) population has been increasing at an average annual rate of ~6% since the early 1990s. In northern Southeast Alaska alone, there are now more whales than estimated for the entire North Pacific several decades ago. An understanding of how this growing population is repopulating traditional foraging grounds will benefit from detailed investigations of their prey preferences and trends in whale abundance and distribution relative to those prey. This dissertation examines these issues from late May until early September 2008 in Frederick Sound and Stephens Passage, a Southeast Alaskan feeding area historically used by humpback whales. The foundation for the study is an analysis of the life histories and abundance patterns of euphausiids, the principal prey of humpbacks in the area, during late spring and summer. Four species, Thysanoessa raschii, T. longipes, T. spinifera, and Euphausia pacifica, were identified in plankton net samples collected at random locations throughout the study site (n = 49) and in locations where a strong scattering layer was observed on a 120 kHz echosounder (n = 48). Both sample types varied in euphausiid species composition. Abundance patterns of immature euphausiids coupled with observations of females carrying spermatophores indicated differences between species in spawning schedules. Thysanoessa spp. began spawning in early April with the spring phytoplankton bloom and continued until late June, whereas E. pacifica began spawning in early June and continued until late August. This protracted recruitment of immature euphausiids was geographically widespread throughout the summer in contrast to adults, which, although present all summer, were found primarily in slope and shallow (
Download or read book Wings in the Sea written by Lois King Winn and published by . This book was released on 1985 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Whale watchers & armchair naturalists will join scientists & environmentalists in welcoming this excellent illustrated introduction to the humpback.
