A Review of Russian Research on the Biology and Commercial Whaling of the Gray Whale

Yablokov, Alexey V.; Bogoslovskaya, L.

doi:10.1016/b978-0-08-092372-7.50026-1

Cited by 24 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…The abundance of gray whales feeding along Chukotka is unknown, but is likely to be large given that a relatively large and stable harvest of about 125 whales has occurred annually in the area since 1985 (http:// www.iwcoffice.org/conservation/table_aboriginal.htm). Past Soviet surveys along Chukotka did not provide suYcient information for deriving abundance estimates; however, they do show a continuous occurrence of gray whales close to the coast of the Chukotka Peninsula with few sightings beyond 35-50 km oVshore (Berzin 1984, Yablokov andBogoslovskaya 1984). Catch positions also indicate a continuum of gray whales around Chukotka (Blokhin 1984, Yablokov andBogoslovskaya 1984).…”

Section: Movements and Focal Area Usagementioning

confidence: 94%

“…Past Soviet surveys along Chukotka did not provide suYcient information for deriving abundance estimates; however, they do show a continuous occurrence of gray whales close to the coast of the Chukotka Peninsula with few sightings beyond 35-50 km oVshore (Berzin 1984, Yablokov andBogoslovskaya 1984). Catch positions also indicate a continuum of gray whales around Chukotka (Blokhin 1984, Yablokov andBogoslovskaya 1984).…”

Section: Movements and Focal Area Usagementioning

confidence: 94%

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Identifying gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) foraging grounds along the Chukotka Peninsula, Russia, using satellite telemetry

et al. 2012

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate summer and fall residency and habitat selection by gray whales, Eschrichtius robustus, together with the biomass of benthic amphipod prey on the coastal feeding grounds along the Chukotka Peninsula. Thirteen gray whales were instrumented with satellite transmitters in September 2006 near the Chukotka Peninsula, Russia. Nine transmitters provided positions from whales for up to 81 days. The whales travelled within 5 km of the Chukotka coast for most of the period they were tracked with only occasional movements oVshore. The average daily travel speeds were 23 km day ¡1 (range 9-53 km day ¡1 ). Four of the whales had daily average travel speeds <1 km day ¡1 suggesting strong Wdelity to the study area. The area containing 95% of the locations for individual whales during biweekly periods was on average 13,027 km 2 (range 7,097-15,896 km 2 ). More than 65% of all locations were in water <30 m, and between 45 and 70% of biweekly kernel home ranges were located in depths between 31 and 50 m. Benthic density of amphipods within the Bering Strait at depths <50 m was on average »54 g wet wt m ¡2 in 2006. It is likely that the abundant benthic biomass is more than suYcient forage to support the current gray whale population. The use of satellite telemetry in this study quantiWes space use and movement patterns of gray whales along the Chukotka coast and identiWes key feeding areas.

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Section: Movements and Focal Area Usagementioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Movements and Focal Area Usagementioning

confidence: 94%

Identifying gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) foraging grounds along the Chukotka Peninsula, Russia, using satellite telemetry

et al. 2012

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“…Historical sighting data and whaling records indicate that summer feeding grounds of western gray whales were in coastal waters of much of the northern Sea of Okhotsk (Yablokov & Bogoslovskaya, 1984; Henderson, 1990). However, gray whale sightings are now limited to the shallow‐water shelf on north‐eastern Sakhalin Island, Russia (Weller et al ., 1999).…”

Section: Western Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gray whaleEschrichtius robustuspopulation and stock identity

2006

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1. In response to conservation and management concerns about gray whale Eschrichtius robustus population and stock structure, we provide an overview of the life history and ecology of gray whales as a context for discussion of population and stock structure within the species. Historically eastern and western North Pacific gray whales were managed separately because: (i) their ranges do not overlap; (ii) genetic analyses indicate that the two populations are significantly different; and (iii) eastern gray whales have increased in abundance over the past century while western gray whales have not. 2.Here, we review gray whale migration timing and segregation, feeding and prey species, and reproduction and reproductive behaviour. For the eastern and western gray whale, we review their distribution, history of exploitation, abundance and current status, although most of what is known is founded on the better studied eastern gray whale and only implied for the lesser known western gray whale. Methods to investigate population and stock identity are reviewed including genetics, morphology, chemical signatures, carbon isotopes, parasites, photographic identification and trends in abundance. 3. While the evidence indicates that there is at least some degree of mixing within each of the gray whale populations, no stocks or sub-stocks can be defined. Population structure is not evident in nuclear data, and because selection occurs primarily on the nuclear genome, it is unlikely that there is structuring within each population that could result in evolutionary differences. For western gray whales, there are insufficient data to assess the plausibility of stock structure within the population, owing to its extremely depleted state. Research on eastern gray whales has focused mostly on documenting changes in abundance, feeding biology and behaviour, and suggests separate breeding groups to be unlikely. Both males and females are promiscuous breeders lending little opportunity for the nuclear genome to be anything other than well mixed as is suggested by the high haplotypic diversity of the eastern population. 4. The available data strongly indicate that western gray whales represent a population geographically isolated from eastern gray whales and therefore that the western and eastern populations should be treated as separate management units.

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“…1999. Historic sighting data and whaling records suggest that summer feeding grounds are in the Okhotsk Sea and that the whales migrate to presently unknown breeding grounds suspected to be along the coast of southern China (Henderson 1972(Henderson , 1984(Henderson , 1990Yablokov and Bogoslovskaya 1984;Kato and Kasuya, in press). Sighting records from aerial and vessel surveys in the Okhotsk Sea between 1979 and 1989 indicated that feeding gray whales aggregated predominately along the shallow-water shelf of northeastern Sakhalin Island, Russia, and were particularly abundant off the southern portion of a coastal lagoon called Zaliv Pil'tun (Blokhin et af.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

GRAY WHALES (ESCHRICHTIUS ROBUSTUS) OFF SAKHALIN ISLAND, RUSSIA: SEASONAL AND ANNUAL PATTERNS OF OCCURRENCE¹

Weller¹,

Würsig²,

Bradford³

et al. 1999

Marine Mammal Science

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The annual return, seasonal occurrence, and site fidelity of Korean‐Okhotsk or western gray whales on their feeding grounds off northeastern Sakhalin Island, Russia, were assessed by boat‐based photo‐identification studies in 1994‐1998. A total of 262 pods were observed, ranging in size from 1 to 9 whales with an overall mean of 2.0. Sixty‐nine whales were individually identified, and a majority of all whales (71.0%) were observed in multiple years. Annual sighting frequencies ranged from 1 to 18 d, with a mean of 5. 4 d. The percentage of whales reidentified from previous years showed a continuous annual increase, reaching 87.0% by the end of the study. Time between first and last sighting of identified individuals within a given year was 1‐85 d, with an overall mean of 40.6 d. Annual calf proportions ranged from 4.3% (1997) to 13.2% (1998), and mother‐calf separations generally occurred between July and September. The seasonal site fidelity and annual return of whales to this part of the Okhotsk Sea emphasize its importance as a primary feeding ground for this endangered population.

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A Review of Russian Research on the Biology and Commercial Whaling of the Gray Whale

Cited by 24 publications

References 1 publication

Identifying gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) foraging grounds along the Chukotka Peninsula, Russia, using satellite telemetry

Identifying gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) foraging grounds along the Chukotka Peninsula, Russia, using satellite telemetry

Gray whaleEschrichtius robustuspopulation and stock identity

GRAY WHALES (ESCHRICHTIUS ROBUSTUS) OFF SAKHALIN ISLAND, RUSSIA: SEASONAL AND ANNUAL PATTERNS OF OCCURRENCE¹

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A Review of Russian Research on the Biology and Commercial Whaling of the Gray Whale

Cited by 24 publications

References 1 publication

Identifying gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) foraging grounds along the Chukotka Peninsula, Russia, using satellite telemetry

Identifying gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) foraging grounds along the Chukotka Peninsula, Russia, using satellite telemetry

Gray whaleEschrichtius robustuspopulation and stock identity

GRAY WHALES (ESCHRICHTIUS ROBUSTUS) OFF SAKHALIN ISLAND, RUSSIA: SEASONAL AND ANNUAL PATTERNS OF OCCURRENCE1

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GRAY WHALES (ESCHRICHTIUS ROBUSTUS) OFF SAKHALIN ISLAND, RUSSIA: SEASONAL AND ANNUAL PATTERNS OF OCCURRENCE¹