scholarly journals North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) and its food: (I) a spatial climatology of Calanus biomass and potential foraging habitats in Canadian waters

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 667-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Plourde ◽  
C Lehoux ◽  
C L Johnson ◽  
G Perrin ◽  
V Lesage
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Column ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Eubalaena Glacialis ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
North Atlantic Right Whale ◽  
Main Prey ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic

Abstract This study aimed at identifying potentially suitable foraging habitats for the North Atlantic right whale (NARW; Eubalaena glacialis) in the Gulf of St Lawrence (GSL), on the Scotian Shelf (SS) and in the Bay of Fundy (BoF), Canada, based on the distribution densities of their main prey, Calanus copepod species. More than 4800 historical Calanus spp. water column integrated samples as well as 221 vertically stratified sampling stations were used to create a 3D (latitude, longitude and vertical) climatology of Calanus spp. biomass densities for spring and summer–fall when NARW are feeding in Canadian waters. We then combined this 3D preyscape with bio-energetic considerations to highlight potentially suitable NARW foraging habitats in the region. Our 3D climatological approach successfully identified the known feeding areas of Grand Manan (BoF) and Roseway Basin (western SS), confirming its validity. Expanding our analyses to the GSL and other parts of the SS, we identified in both regions areas previously unknown where Calanus spp. biomass densities exceeded minimum levels suitable for foraging NARW. Our results represent a key contribution to the identification of important foraging areas for NARW in Canadian waters, especially in the context of climate change and the documented shift in NARW distribution.

Assessment of mitochondrial DNA structuring and nursery use in the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis)

1999 ◽  
Vol 77 (8) ◽  
pp. 1217-1222 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Malik ◽  
M W Brown ◽  
S D Kraus ◽  
A R Knowlton ◽  
P K Hamilton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Nursery Area ◽  
Eubalaena Glacialis ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Genetic Structuring ◽  
North Atlantic Right Whale ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic

The North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) inhabits five areas along the east coast of North America at different times of the year. During 17 years of field observations, it has been found that only 59% of the newborn calves are brought to the Bay of Fundy nursery area. To examine whether this is because of population structuring, the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region haplotypes were determined for 269 individuals. Seven polymorphic sites were found to define five haplotypes. Calves were divided into two groups based on whether or not they were brought to the Bay of Fundy nursery. Significant genetic structuring of mitochondrial haplotypes was found between these groups (p = 0.002). Mothers that have had more than three calves demonstrated significant fidelity (p = 0.005) to the Bay of Fundy, suggesting that philopatry is the basis for the genetic structuring. Although this study clearly identifies the existence of two subpopulations and an alternative nursery area(s), the location(s) of the alternative area(s) is unclear and remains an important issue for the conservation of the species.

Analysis of fecal glucocorticoids in the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis)

2006 ◽  
Vol 148 (2) ◽  
pp. 260-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen E. Hunt ◽  
Rosalind M. Rolland ◽  
Scott D. Kraus ◽  
Samuel K. Wasser
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Eubalaena Glacialis ◽  
North Atlantic Right Whale ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic ◽  
Fecal Glucocorticoids

scholarly journals How we can all stop killing whales: a proposal to avoid whale entanglement in fishing gear

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 781-786 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J Moore
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Water Column ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Cape Cod ◽  
Fishing Gear ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
North Atlantic Right Whale ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic

Abstract Whales are federally protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act; endangered species, such as the North Atlantic right whale, receive additional protection under the Endangered Species Act. However, their regulations have failed to satisfy conservation and animal welfare concerns. From 1990 to 2011 the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis, NARW) population grew at a mean of 2.8% annually. However, population trends reversed since 2011; the species is in decline, with only ∼100 reproductively active females remaining. This failure is driven by vessel collisions and increasingly fatal and serious entanglement in fixed fishing gear, whose rope strength has increased substantially. Chronic entanglement, drag, and associated morbidity have been linked to poor fecundity. Genuine solutions involve designating areas to be avoided and speed restrictions for ships and removing fishing trap ropes from the water column. A trap fishing closure for NARW habitat in the Cape Cod Bay (U.S.) area has been in place seasonally since 2015. 2017 mortalities in Eastern Canada elicited substantive management changes whereby the 2018 presence of NARW in active trap fishing areas resulted in an effective closure. To avoid these costly closures, the traditional trap fishery model of rope end lines attached to surface marker buoys has to be modified so that traps are marked virtually, and retrieved with gear that does not remain in the water column except during trap retrieval. Consumer demand for genuinely whale-safe products will augment and encourage the necessary regulatory changes so that trap fisheries conserve target and nontarget species.

scholarly journals Exposure of the North Atlantic right whale Eubalaena glacialis to the marine algal biotoxin, domoic acid

2010 ◽  
Vol 398 ◽  
pp. 287-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
LF Leandro ◽  
RM Rolland ◽  
PB Roth ◽  
N Lundholm ◽  
Z Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Domoic Acid ◽  
Eubalaena Glacialis ◽  
North Atlantic Right Whale ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic ◽  
Marine Algal
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