Spatial distribution, habitat utilization, and social interactions of humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, off Hawai'i, determined using acoustic and visual techniques

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 1134-1146 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. Frankel ◽  
C. W. Clark ◽  
L. M. Herman ◽  
C. M. Gabriele
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Separation Distance ◽  
Habitat Utilization ◽  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Visual Methods ◽  
Acoustic Data ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Water Depths

Acoustic and visual methods were used to track and observe humpback whales off the island of Hawai'i. Sixty-two singing whales were located acoustically in water depths from 10 to 305 fathoms (mean 126 fathoms; 1 fathom = 1.828 m). This indicates that singers are not confined within the 100-fathom contour, although nearshore waters had a higher density of singers. The separation distance between singers (mean 5.1 km) was found to be significantly greater than that between nonsinging singletons (mean 2.1 km), supporting the hypothesis that song functions to maintain spacing between singers. The mean speed of singers determined from visual data was 1.79 km/h and from acoustic data 1.6 km/h. Some singers actively swam while singing. Other singers continued singing while affiliating with or being joined by other whales. The correlation between breaching and the cessation of singing suggests that the sounds of aerial behavior can convey information to other whales. These observations suggest the need to expand the traditional interpretations of the behavior of singing humpback whales obtained from visual observations alone.

Sex differences in site fidelity and migration of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) to the Hawaiian Islands

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (11) ◽  
pp. 1923-1933 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison S. Craig ◽  
Louis M. Herman
Keyword(s):  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Hawaiian Islands ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Low Latitude ◽  
Wintering Area ◽  
The Mean ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Feeding Grounds

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) perform extensive seasonal migrations between high-latitude summer feeding grounds and low-latitude winter reproductive grounds. To investigate gender-related site fidelity to the Hawaiian Islands, an important wintering area for North Pacific humpback whales, photographically based resight histories of 224 females and 416 males observed in Hawai'i from 1976 through 1991 were compiled. Results indicated that the mean number of years in which they were seen was higher for males than for females, that the probability of an individual being resighted across years was higher for males than for females, and that more males than females were seen in consecutive years. Potential sources of bias favoring the photographic capture of males were considered, but none were judged to be significant contributors to the results obtained. It was proposed instead that not all females undertake or complete the migration to the winter grounds each year. Because of the high energy costs of migration and reproduction, some females may overwinter in high latitudes, while others may become pregnant en route to the area traditionally associated with breeding and return to the feeding grounds before arriving at the terminal winter destination.

Seasonal occurrence and annual return of humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, in the southern Gulf of Maine

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 440-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillip J. Clapham ◽  
Lisa S. Baraff ◽  
Carole A. Carlson ◽  
Margaret A. Christian ◽  
David K. Mattila ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Maine ◽  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Rate Of Return ◽  
Seasonal Occurrence ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
The Mean

A study of 518 individually identified humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the southern Gulf of Maine between 1979 and 1988 showed high rates of both within-season occurrence and annual return. On average, 77.3% of whales were resighted on more than 1 day during the year (maximum 83 days), with occupancies ranging from 1 to 324 days (mean 88.1 days). The mean rate of return of individuals in consecutive years was 73.2% (range 59.1–87.4%), and the majority of whales were still being resighted up to 10 years later. Only 13 humpbacks were recorded during 50 midwinter surveys. Variation in the occurrence of individuals appears to be related to variability in the abundance of prey and perhaps to regional preferences.

scholarly journals The effects of vessel noise on the communication network of humpback whales

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 190967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca A. Dunlop
Keyword(s):  
Communication Network ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Separation Distance ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Social Signals ◽  
Wind Noise ◽  
Physical Presence ◽  
Communication Space ◽  
Vessel Noise

Humpback whales rely on acoustic communication to mediate social interactions. The distance to which these social signals propagate from the signaller defines its communication space, and therefore communication network (number of potential receivers). As humpback whales migrate along populated coastlines, they are likely to encounter noise from vessel traffic which will mask their social signals. Since no empirical data exist on baleen whale hearing, the consequences of this are usually assumed, being the modelled reduction in their communication space. Here, the communication space and network of migrating humpback whales was compared in increasing wind-dominated and vessel-dominated noise. Behavioural data on their social interactions were then used to inform these models. In typical wind noise, a signaller's communication space was estimated to extend to 4 km, which agreed with the maximum separation distance between groups that socially interacted. An increase in vessel noise reduced the modelled communication area, along with a significant reduction in group social interactions, probably due to a reduction in their communication network. However, signal masking did not fully explain this change in social behaviour, implying there was also an additional effect of the physical presence of the vessel on signaller and receiver behaviour. Though these observed changes in communication space and social behaviour were likely to be short term and localized, an increase in vessel activity due to tourism and coastal population growth may cause more sustained changes along the humpback whale migration paths.

scholarly journals Multi-year presence of humpback whales in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean but not during El Niño

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Schall ◽  
Karolin Thomisch ◽  
Olaf Boebel ◽  
Gabriele Gerlach ◽  
Sari Mangia Woods ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
El Niño ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Low Latitude ◽  
Sea Ice Extent ◽  
Atlantic Sector ◽  
Acoustic Data ◽  
Breeding Grounds ◽  
Passive Acoustic

AbstractHumpback whales are thought to undertake annual migrations between their low latitude breeding grounds and high latitude feeding grounds. However, under specific conditions, humpback whales sometimes change their migratory destination or skip migration overall. Here we document the surprising persistent presence of humpback whales in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean during five years (2011, 2012, 2013, 2017, and 2018) using passive acoustic data. However, in the El Niño years 2015 and 2016, humpback whales were virtually absent. Our data show that humpback whales are systematically present in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean and suggest that these whales are particularly sensitive to climate oscillations which have profound effects on winds, sea ice extent, primary production, and especially krill productivity.

Steroid hormone profiles and body conditions of migrating male humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)

2021 ◽  
Vol 313 ◽  
pp. 113888
Author(s):  
Greta Dalle Luche ◽  
Ashley S.P. Boggs ◽  
John R. Kucklick ◽  
Darryl W. Hawker ◽  
Jillian H. Wisse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Steroid Hormone ◽  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales
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