Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus spp.) were once abundant in the Southern Hemisphere, but commercial whaling hunted them to near extinction in the previous century. The species is currently listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Chiloé-Corcovado region in Chile is one of the most important areas in the Southern Hemisphere for blue whales since it functions as a feeding and nursing ground. In recent years, ship traffic has increased considerably in the area and noise pollution is a major concern. We review what is known about blue whales in this area, and also about potential effects of noise on their communication and behavior. Since we still know so little about the functions of blue whale vocalizations, and since reactions to various kinds of anthropogenic noise can be so variable, further research is required to understand the biological implications of the effects of ship noise on blue whale communication and overall fitness in the Chiloé-Corcovado region.
A joint effort between WHOI and the Melimoyu Ecosystem Research Institute (MERI) sought to gain a better understanding of a population of blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) in the Gulf of Corcovado, Chile. A cruise in March 2014 resulted in the deployment of 5 DTAGs, which are miniature sound and orientation recording tags that are attached via suction cups. A total of five tag deployments on four individual whales were achieved, totaling 21 hr 11 min. Dives were predominantly between 10 and 50 m in depth, with a maximum of 139 m. Sloughed skin found on the suction cups of recovered tags and fecal samples were preserved to be used for genetic, dietary and pollutant analyses. Acoustic data on the tags revealed numerous calls from distant blue whales, and an apparent call exchange was recorded between a tagged juvenile whale and a distant animal. Photo-identification images and acoustic recordings of all marine mammal species encountered were obtained whenever possible; these included humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), Peale's dolphins (Lagenorhynchus australis), Chilean dolphins (Cephalorhynchus eutropia), and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Continuation of this collaboration has great potential to provide information to policy makers regarding how to protect the unique habitats in this region.
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