Download or read book Population Abundance and Trend Estimates for Beaked Whales and Sperm Whales in the California Current from Ship based Visual Line transect Survey Data 1991 2014 written by Jeffrey E. Moore and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 16 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For several species -- fin whale, sperm whale, and beaked whales -- Bayesian trend models were previously fit to data from six visual line-transect surveys conducted in the California Current between 1991 -- 2008. In 2014, the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center conducted another, seventh, comparable line-transect survey: the California Current Cetacean and Ecosystem Assessment Survey (CalCurCEAS). Updated trend estimates incorporating the new survey data have been published for fin whales but not yet for beaked whales or sperm whales. Here, new trend model estimates (of population trend and abundance) are presented for beaked whales and sperm whales. There is little evidence of trends in overall sperm whale abundance, but the new analysis supports prior evidence for an increasing number of sperm whales that occur in small groups (presumed to be adult or near-adult males). Cuvier’s beaked whales appear to have decreased in abundance from high values in 1991-93, but that decline now appears to have leveled off. There is some weak evidence of an increasing trend in Baird’s beaked whales. Mesoplodon beaked whales showed markedly higher abundance in 2014, reversing a declining trend from 1991-2008 that had been noted in a previous analysis. The increase may have be driven by an influx of tropical species of Mesoplodon during the unusually warm ocean conditions in 2014. [doi:10.7289/V5/TM-SWFSC-585(http://doi.org/10.7289/V5/TM-SWFSC-585)]

Download or read book Recent Information on the Status of Large Whales in California Coastal Waters written by Jay Barlow and published by . This book was released on 1993 with total page 20 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Ethology and Behavioral Ecology of Odontocetes written by Bernd Würsig and published by Springer. This book was released on 2019-08-02 with total page 508 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book concentrates on the marine mammalian group of Odontocetes, the toothed whales, dolphins, and porpoises. In 23 chapters, a total of 40 authors describe general patterns of ethological concepts of odontocetes in their natural environments, with a strong bent towards behavioral ecology. Examples are given of particularly well-studied species and species groups for which enough data exist, especially from the past 15 years. The aim is to give a modern flavor of present knowledge of ethology and behavior of generally large-brained behaviorally flexible mammals that have evolved quite separately from social mammals on land. As well, the plight of populations and species due to humans is described in multiple chapters, with the goal that an understanding of behavior can help to solve or alleviate at least some human-made problems.

Download or read book Marine Mammal Ecology and Conservation written by Ian L. Boyd and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2010-08-12 with total page 475 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Much of our knowledge about marine mammals is derived from a long-term and dedicated research effort that is evolving rapidly due to the introduction and invention of new methods.This book reflects the inventiveness of marine researchers as they try to find ways around the problems presented to them by these unusual and challenging animals.

Download or read book The Marine Mammals of the Gulf of Mexico written by Bernd G. Würsig and published by W. L. Moody JR. Natural Histor. This book was released on 2000 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Given in honor of District Governor Hugh Summers and Mrs. Ahnise Summers by the Rotary Club of Aggieland with matching support from the Sara and John H. Lindsey '44 Fund, Texas A & M University Press, 2004.

Download or read book Distribution Abundance and Population Structuring of Beaked Whales in the Great Bahama Canyon Northern Bahamas written by and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 11 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The long-term goal of this project is to collect baseline data to fill critical data gaps on the population ecology of beaked whales in the northern Bahamas, specifically relating to distribution, habitat use, abundance and population structuring. The objectives of the three-year study are: 1) To use visual survey techniques to document beaked whale distribution and habitat use, and to estimate abundance in the Great Bahama Canyon (Figure 1). 2) To use photo-identification techniques to extend an existing photographic catalogue of individual beaked whales, which will be queried to examine the distribution, movements and social affiliations of identified individuals, and to assess abundance using mark-recapture techniques. 3) To use remote biopsy techniques to collect skin and blubber samples to contribute to the study of beaked whale diet (through fatty acid, stable isotope and contaminant analyses) and stock structure (using molecular genetic approaches). 4) To develop and implement methods of detecting beaked whales using a towed acoustic array, compare visual and acoustic detection rates, and compare detection efficiency of the towed array and the bottom mounted hydrophones at the Atlantic Underwater Test and Evaluation Center. 5) To collect baseline data on the distribution and relative abundance of other cetacean species in this area. 6) To collect photo-identification and biopsy data from other species, notably sperm whales, killer whales and oceanic bottlenose dolphins, as part of an effort to assess abundance, stock structure and diet. Sightings of sea turtles and interesting bird species will be recorded as well.

Download or read book Dolphins Whales and Porpoises written by Randall R. Reeves and published by IUCN. This book was released on 2003 with total page 238 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Hearing by Whales and Dolphins written by Whitlow W.L. Au and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 499 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Here, experts in different areas of the field provide an overview of the bioacoustics of whales and dolphins as well as a thorough introduction to the subject for investigators of hearing in other animals. Topics covered include the structure and function of cetacean auditory systems, the unique sound production system of odontocetes, acoustic communication, psychoacoustics, echolocation and models of sound propagation.

Download or read book Inferring Trackline Detection Probabilities from Differences in Apparent Densities of Beaked Whales and Dwarf Pygmy Sperm Whales in Different Survey Conditions written by Jay Barlow and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 14 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Visual line-transect surveys are commonly used to estimate the abundance of cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises). A key parameter in this method is the probability of detecting a cetacean that is directly on the transect line or g(0). Beaked whales and dwarf & pygmy sperm whales are visually inconspicuous and dive for long periods of time. Previous studies have shown that trackline detection probability is low for these species even in the best survey conditions. Trackline detection probability has never been estimated for them in poor survey conditions. A method is developed here to estimate the relative values of trackline detection probability by comparing estimates of apparent density in different survey conditions (measured as Beaufort state) using estimated density in the best survey conditions as a reference point. Using data from line-transect surveys in the eastern tropical Pacific, this approach yields consistent estimates of trackline detection probability for beaked whales and for dwarf & pygmy sperm whales as functions of sighting conditions in two adjacent study areas. Results show that g(0) for beaked whales is similar for Beaufort 0 and 1 conditions but decreases with increasing Beaufort to less than 10% of that value in Beaufort 5. For dwarf & pygmy sperm whales g(0) decreases even faster with Beaufort state and, in Beaufort 2, is less than 10% of its value in Beaufort 0. These relative values of g(0) are used to extrapolate published estimates of g(0) for calm seas to yield values for Beaufort states 0 to 5"--Abstract.

Download or read book Harbour Porpoises in the North Atlantic written by and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page 324 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Predictive Modeling of Cetacean Densities in the California Current Ecosystem Based on Summer fall Ship Surveys in 1991 208 written by Elizabeth Ann Becker and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 45 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "We use data from six ship-based cetacean and ecosystem assessment surveys in the California Current Ecosystem (CCE) to update habitat-based density models for 11 species and one small-beaked-whale guild. We previously had modeled cetacean density as a function of oceanic variables for the same 12 species/guild using data collected during four line-transect ship surveys conducted in the CCE in summer and fall of 1991, 1993, 1996, and 2001. An independent set of survey data collected in the summer and fall of 2005 was used to validate the models. These estimates were incorporated into a web-based system that allows users to estimate cetacean density within any user-defined region within the CCE study area. In this study, data from an additional line-transect survey conducted in 2008 were pooled with the 1991-2005 data and used to re-build the habitat-based density models. We also refit the 1991-2008 data to the previous 'best' models to compare model performance. The additional year of data provided increased sample sizes and a greater range of oceanic conditions for robust model development. Predicted densities for each year were smoothed and then averaged to produce a composite grid that represents our best estimate of CCE cetacean density over the past 20 years. The final model predictions were used to update the web-based system and also provided to the U.S. Navy to help assess potential impacts from their at-sea training and testing activities"--Abstract.

Download or read book The Bottlenose Dolphin written by Stephen Leatherwood and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2012-12-02 with total page 672 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Because of their exposure in marine parks, movies, and television as well as their presence in tropical and warm-temperature waters around the world, bottlenose dolphins are among the most familiar of marine mammals. Since they are relatively easy to obtain and they thrive in captivity, these dolphins have been used in a great variety of studies. Work with the bottlenose has provided insight into the sensory mechanisms, communication systems, energetics, reproduction, anatomy, and other aspects of cetacean biology. This volume presents the most recent biological and behavioral discoveries of bottlenose dolphins from different regions and compares bottlenose dolphins as a group with other species of animals.

Download or read book Whales Whaling and Ocean Ecosystems written by James A. Estes and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2006 with total page 424 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A must read for anyone interested in the ecology of whales, this timely and creative volume is sure to stimulate new research for years to come."—Annalisa Berta, San Diego State University

Download or read book Spatial Modeling Parameter Uncertainty and Precision of Density Estimates from Line transect Surveys written by Megan Caton Ferguson and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Spatially-explicit models of animal density, such as density surface models (DSMs), are diverse, flexible, and powerful tools for investigating spatial patterns in animal density, examining associations between animal density and environmental covariates, and estimating abundance. Advances in spatial modeling methods and subsequent incorporation into widely accessible software allow the non-specialist to add these tools to their analytical toolbox. However, limitations in some software may prevent a thorough treatment of uncertainty. I expanded the functionality of tools for constructing DSMs from line-transect survey data to derive a population abundance estimate that honestly accounts for multiple sources of detection bias and associated uncertainty. As an illustrative case study, I used data collected during an aerial line-transect survey for Western Arctic bowhead whales (\textit{Balaena mysticetus}) over their summering grounds in the Beaufort Sea and Amundsen Gulf during August 2019. Using spatially explicit hierarchical generalized additive models that incorporated correction factors and associated uncertainty for perception and availability bias, I estimated the abundance of the Western Arctic bowhead whale population to be 17,175 whales (CV($\hat{N}$)= 0.237; 95\% confidence interval = [10,793, 27,330]). This model-based abundance estimate is similar in magnitude to the two most recent estimates for this population based on data from ice-based surveys in 2011 and 2019. Additionally, my abundance estimate is sufficiently precise to inform management decisions for this protected species. The enhanced precision of my abundance estimate over the estimate derived using design-based analytical methods applied to the same data is due to explicit modeling of the spatial correlation in whale density. Applying the power of DSMs to the aerial line-transect survey data made this survey methodology a viable alternative to ice-based surveys, which are facing obstacles due to climate change, for updating abundance estimates for Western Arctic bowhead whales in the future. My analytical developments can easily be applied to other line-transect datasets with similar and common challenges due to multiple survey platforms, spatial heterogeneity in animal density and environmental conditions, and habitat partitioning among groups (e.g., defined by age, sex, activity state) in the target population.

Download or read book Marine Protected Areas for Whales Dolphins and Porpoises written by Erich Hoyt and published by Earthscan. This book was released on 2012 with total page 521 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'Erich Hoyt's handbook is an admirable, timely and highly welcome contribution.'Michael Stachowitsch, Marine EcologyWhat does it mean to save the whales if their habitat is left unprotected? Marine Protected Areas for Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises is the definitive handbook on this pressing issue and the first to bridge the gap between the disciplines of marine protected areas and cetacean conservation. It launches a new chapter in cetacean conservation with its investigation into the crucial habitat needs and protection requirements of some 84 species.The author, one of the world's foremost experts in this field, takes you around the world to investigate the promising results of the latest conservation research and the strategies for obtaining marine protected areas in coastal waters and on the high seas, using national legislation and regional and international conventions. This is an essential introduction, guide and reference work for those working to ensure a future for whales and dolphins.

Download or read book The Endangered Species Act written by Stanford Environmental Law Society and published by Stanford Environmental Law Soc. This book was released on 2001 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This handbook is a guide to the federal Endangered Species Act, the primary U.S. law aimed at protecting species of animals and plants from human threats to their survival. It is intended for lawyers, government agency employees, students, community activists, businesspeople, and any citizen who wants to understand the Act--its history, provisions, accomplishments, and failures.

Download or read book Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Marine Debris written by and published by . This book was released on 1990 with total page 1314 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: