scholarly journals Fine-scale habitat use by humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Zavora Bay, Mozambique

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-147
Author(s):  
Charlotte D. Van Driessche ◽  
Nakia Cullain ◽  
Yara Tibiriçá ◽  
Ian O'Connor
Keyword(s):  
Observation Point ◽  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Breeding Ground ◽  
East African ◽  
East African Coast ◽  
African Coast ◽  
Pair Separation ◽  
Commercial Whaling ◽  
Population Numbers

Little is known about the humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) of the East-African Coast genetic sub-unit (C1). With an estimated population size of 7000 whales, they demonstrate the resilience of the species after commercial whaling caused population numbers to decline drastically. Zavora Bay, Mozambique offers an ideal observation point of the passage of the whales during their annual migration towards the breeding ground of southern Africa and serves as an operating base to monitor this population. This study aimed at identifying the importance of Zavora Bay as part of this breeding ground and the core regions for humpback whale use within the study area. Results showed the waters off the coast of Zavora are actively used for breeding and do not merely serve as passage towards the wintering habitats. A mother-calf pair separation with a preference for shallower waters closer to shore was observed. Besides depth and distance to shore, slope also proved to have a significant influence on the distribution of adult humpback whales. Increased survey effort and more detailed investigation of the threats to humpback whales within the waters of Zavora are recommended.

scholarly journals The Relationship of the Cotton Crop to Plague, and its Role as a Vehicle for Rats and Fleas in East Africa

1935 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 388-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Isgaer Roberts
Keyword(s):  
East Africa ◽  
Export Trade ◽  
East African ◽  
East African Coast ◽  
Cotton Crop ◽  
African Coast ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Belgian Congo

Mombasa is the main port for the East African coast, handling all exports and imports for the two territories, Kenya and Uganda, which are incidentally the worst plague centres in the area. A fair amount of the Tanganyika and Belgian Congo produce also reaches this port. As Mombasa is the receiving centre for all the export trade of Kenya and Uganda, it might be expected that plague, if conveyable in any form or by any means, would appear regularly with the arrival of some of the main crops which are usually considered to be associated with the disease in the interior. Maize and cotton are generally supposed to be connected with the incidence of plague, and it is of particular interest to contrast briefly the figures for the incidence of the disease at the port within recent years and the periods of export of these crops.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document