The scale of the whale: using video-tag data to evaluate sea-surface ice concentration from the perspective of individual Antarctic minke whales

Abstract Background Advances in biologging technology allow researchers access to previously unobservable behavioral states and movement patterns of marine animals. To relate behaviors with environmental variables, features must be evaluated at scales relevant to the animal or behavior. Remotely sensed environmental data, collected via satellites, often suffers from the effects of cloud cover and lacks the spatial or temporal resolution to adequately link with individual animal behaviors or behavioral bouts. This study establishes a new method for remotely and continuously quantifying surface ice concentration (SIC) at a scale relevant to individual whales using on-animal tag video data. Results Motion-sensing and video-recording suction cup tags were deployed on 7 Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) around the Antarctic Peninsula in February and March of 2018. To compare the scale of camera-tag observations with satellite imagery, the area of view was simulated using camera-tag parameters. For expected conditions, we found the visible area maximum to be ~ 100m2 which indicates that observations occur at an equivalent or finer scale than a single pixel of high-resolution visible spectrum satellite imagery. SIC was classified into one of six bins (0%, 1–20%, 21–40%, 41–60%, 61–80%, 81–100%) by two independent observers for the initial and final surfacing between dives. In the event of a disagreement, a third independent observer was introduced, and the median of the three observer’s values was used. Initial results (n = 6) show that Antarctic minke whales in the coastal bays of the Antarctic Peninsula spend 52% of their time in open water, and only 15% of their time in water with SIC greater than 20%. Over time, we find significant variation in observed SIC, indicating that Antarctic minke occupy an extremely dynamic environment. Sentinel-2 satellite-based approaches of sea ice assessment were not possible because of persistent cloud cover during the study period. Conclusion Tag-video offers a means to evaluate ice concentration at spatial and temporal scales relevant to the individual. Combined with information on underwater behavior, our ability to quantify SIC continuously at the scale of the animal will improve upon current remote sensing methods to understand the link between animal behavior and these dynamic environmental variables.

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Electrical Resistivity of Ice from the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

Journal of Glaciology ◽

10.1017/s0022143000006110 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 30 (106) ◽

pp. 289-295 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

John M. Reynolds ◽

J. G. Paren

Keyword(s):

Antarctic Peninsula ◽

Flow Line ◽

Polar Regions ◽

List Type ◽

Electrical Measurements ◽

Ice Shelf ◽

Ice Shelves ◽

History Of ◽

Surface Ice ◽

The Antarctic

AbstractGeoresistivity soundings have been carried out at four sites in the Antarctic Peninsula. The objective of the work was to investigate the electrical behaviour of ice from an area where substantial melting occurs in summer and from contrasting thermal regimes. Electrical measurements made at three sites along a flow line within George VI Ice Shelf reveal that:(a)the resistivity of deep ice is similar to that of other Antarctic ice shelves,(b)the resistivity of the ice-shelf surface, which is affected by the percolation and refreezing of melt water, is similar to that of deep ice and hence the ice is polar in character.A compilation of published resistivities of deep ice from polar regions shows that the range of resistivities is very narrow (0.4 –2.0) x 105Ω m between –2 and – 29°C, irrespective of the physical setting and history of the ice. Typically, resistivity is within a factor of two of 80 kΩ m at –20° C with an activation energy of 0.22 eV. In contrast, the resistivity of surface ice at Wormald Ice Piedmont, where the ice is at 0°C throughout, is two orders of magnitude higher and falls at the lower end of the range of resistivities for temperate ice.

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Electrical Resistivity of Ice from the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

Journal of Glaciology ◽

10.3189/s0022143000006110 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 30 (106) ◽

pp. 289-295 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

John M. Reynolds ◽

J. G. Paren

Keyword(s):

Antarctic Peninsula ◽

Flow Line ◽

Polar Regions ◽

List Type ◽

Electrical Measurements ◽

Ice Shelf ◽

Ice Shelves ◽

History Of ◽

Surface Ice ◽

The Antarctic

AbstractGeoresistivity soundings have been carried out at four sites in the Antarctic Peninsula. The objective of the work was to investigate the electrical behaviour of ice from an area where substantial melting occurs in summer and from contrasting thermal regimes. Electrical measurements made at three sites along a flow line within George VI Ice Shelf reveal that: (a)the resistivity of deep ice is similar to that of other Antarctic ice shelves,(b)the resistivity of the ice-shelf surface, which is affected by the percolation and refreezing of melt water, is similar to that of deep ice and hence the ice is polar in character.A compilation of published resistivities of deep ice from polar regions shows that the range of resistivities is very narrow (0.4 –2.0) x 105 Ω m between –2 and – 29°C, irrespective of the physical setting and history of the ice. Typically, resistivity is within a factor of two of 80 kΩ m at –20° C with an activation energy of 0.22 eV. In contrast, the resistivity of surface ice at Wormald Ice Piedmont, where the ice is at 0°C throughout, is two orders of magnitude higher and falls at the lower end of the range of resistivities for temperate ice.

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An automated image analysis system for determining sea-ice concentration and cloud cover from AVHRR images of the Antarctic

International Journal of Remote Sensing ◽

10.1080/01431160010025989 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 611-625 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

R. N. Williams ◽

K. J. Michael ◽

S. Pendlebury ◽

P. Crowther

Keyword(s):

Image Analysis ◽

Sea Ice ◽

Cloud Cover ◽

Automated Image Analysis ◽

Image Analysis System ◽

Sea Ice Concentration ◽

Ice Concentration ◽

Analysis System ◽

The Antarctic

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The Ultraviolet Radiation Environment of the Antarctic Peninsula: The Roles of Ozone and Cloud Cover

Journal of Applied Meteorology ◽

10.1175/1520-0450(1991)030<0478:tureot>2.0.co;2 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 478-493 ◽

Cited By ~ 90

Author(s):

Dan Lubin ◽

John E. Frederick

Keyword(s):

Ultraviolet Radiation ◽

Antarctic Peninsula ◽

Cloud Cover ◽

Radiation Environment ◽

The Antarctic

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Statistical modeling of sea ice concentration in the northwest region of the Antarctic Peninsula

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment ◽

10.1007/s10661-021-08843-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 193 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Fernando Luis Hillebrand ◽

Ulisses Franz Bremer ◽

Marcos Wellausen Dias de Freitas ◽

Juliana Costi ◽

Cláudio Wilson Mendes Júnior ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sea Ice ◽

Statistical Modeling ◽

Antarctic Peninsula ◽

Sea Ice Concentration ◽

Ice Concentration ◽

Northwest Region ◽

The Antarctic

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Application of textural analysis to map the sea ice concentration with sentinel 1A in the western region of the Antarctic Peninsula

Polar Science ◽

10.1016/j.polar.2021.100719 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 100719

Author(s):

Fernando Luis Hillebrand ◽

Ikaro Daniel de Carvalho Barreto ◽

Ulisses Franz Bremer ◽

Jorge Arigony-Neto ◽

Cláudio Wilson Mendes Júnior ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sea Ice ◽

Antarctic Peninsula ◽

Textural Analysis ◽

Western Region ◽

Sea Ice Concentration ◽

Ice Concentration ◽

The Western Region ◽

The Antarctic

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Sightings of Antarctic minke whales, Balaenoptera bonaerensis, near the Kiev Peninsula (West Antarctica) during the summer period of 2019

Ukrainian Antarctic Journal ◽

10.33275/1727-7485.2.2020.654 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 68-74

Author(s):

O. Savenko ◽

◽

Keyword(s):

Antarctic Peninsula ◽

Monitoring Program ◽

Encounter Rate ◽

West Antarctica ◽

Encounter Rates ◽

Early Autumn ◽

Minke Whales ◽

Balaenoptera Bonaerensis ◽

The Antarctic

Antarctic Peninsula region is experiencing one of the fastest rates of climate change on Earth. Its waters are known as important feeding grounds for the Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis). The purpose of the present study was to reveal the summer and early autumn presence of the Antarctic minke whales in the area adjacent to the Kiev Peninsula of West Antarctica and to estimate the encounter rates of the species in the area. The boat-based photo-identification cetacean studies were initiated as part of the long-term monitoring program based at the Akademik Vernadsky station near the Kiev Peninsula of West Antarctica. From 22 January to 7 April 2019, 35 boat and yacht cruises of the 821 nautical miles of total length were conducted. There were encountered 13 Antarctic minke whales in 7 sightings. The encounter rate was 0.015 whales per nautical mile. Minke whales were encountered only in 5% of the total sightings. Three more whales were opportunistically seen from the top of Galindez Island. There were single whales sighted and small groups of up to 3 specimens (Med = 2). At least 2 individuals were identified as juveniles. Primary behavior for whales in 7 sightings was foraging, and 2 groups were observed while travelling. A total 9 individuals of the Antarctic minke whales were photo-identified during the survey, and no matches were found between the different encounters. Our pilot study indicates summer and early autumn presence of the Antarctic minke whales in the area adjacent to the Kiev Peninsula. But encounter rates seem to be low in comparison with results of some previous surveys. Our results show the possibility to monitor minke whales in the area, and further long-term complex monitoring is essential for understanding the ecology and population dynamics of the Antarctic minke whales in rapidly changing marine environment of the Antarctic Peninsula.

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The identification of environmental parameters which could influence soil bacterial community composition on the Antarctic Peninsula - a statistical approach

Antarctic Science ◽

10.1017/s0954102012000028 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 249-258 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

C.W. Chong ◽

D.A. Pearce ◽

P. Convey ◽

I.K.P. Tan

Keyword(s):

Community Structure ◽

Bacterial Community ◽

Antarctic Peninsula ◽

Environmental Variables ◽

Statistical Approach ◽

Bacterial Community Composition ◽

Environmental Parameters ◽

Soil Bacterial Community ◽

Soil Bacterial ◽

The Antarctic

AbstractWe adopted a statistical approach to identify environmental parameters which might be important in structuring the bacterial community in soils on the Antarctic Peninsula. An assessment of soil bacterial community composition at six environmentally distinct locations was made using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) profiling. All locations are near to Rothera Point, on Reptile Ridge and adjacent islands in Ryder Bay, off the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, and were selected to maximize the range of environmental variability easily accessible from Rothera Station. A range of environmental variables was determined, and a Spearman rank correlation test was used to link the community structure and environmental variables. We demonstrated that the taxonomic distribution of the soil bacteria among the six study sites was relatively even, especially among the islands within Ryder Bay, although each location possessed a distinct community structure. Significant differences in the environmental conditions and soil chemical parameters allowed us to identify differences in location and soil pH as the environmental variables that could most probably explain the soil bacterial community patterns. This observation is consistent with an increasing number of studies from both Arctic and Antarctic locations, and will contribute to the design of future parameter-specific studies to test the potential functional significance of pH to the Antarctic soil bacterial community.

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