Cetaceans of the Galapagos Archipelago: Species in Constant Change and the Importance of a Standardized and Long-Term Citizen Science Program

Alarcón-Ruales, Daniela; Denkinger, Judith; Zurita-Arthos, Leo; Herrera, Salome; Díaz-Pazmiño, Santiago; Espinoza, Eduardo; Muñoz Pérez, Juan Pablo; Holmes, Bonnie J.; Townsend, Kathy A.

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-28089-4_22

Social and Ecological Interactions in the Galapagos Islands

2023

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-28089-4_22

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Cetaceans of the Galapagos Archipelago: Species in Constant Change and the Importance of a Standardized and Long-Term Citizen Science Program

Daniela Alarcón-Ruales,

Judith Denkinger,

Leo Zurita-Arthos

et al.

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2024

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Insights into Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus L.) Population Movements in the Galapagos Archipelago and Southeast Pacific

Guzman,

Estévez,

Kaiser

2024

Animals

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The Galapagos Marine Reserve is vital for cetaceans, serving as both a stopover and residency site. However, blue whales, occasionally sighted here, exhibit poorly understood migratory behavior within the Galapagos and the broader Eastern Tropical Pacific. This study, the first to satellite tag blue whales in the Galapagos (16 tagged between 2021 and 2023), explored their behavior in relation to environmental variables like chlorophyll-a concentration, sea surface temperature (SST), and productivity. Key findings show a strong correlation between foraging behavior, high chlorophyll-a levels, productivity, and lower SSTs, indicating a preference for food-rich areas. Additionally, there is a notable association with geomorphic features like ridges, which potentially enhance food abundance. Most tagged whales stayed near the Galapagos archipelago, with higher concentrations observed around Isabela Island, which is increasingly frequented by tourist vessels, posing heightened ship strike risks. Some whales ventured into Ecuador’s exclusive economic zone, while one migrated southward to Peru. The strong 2023 El Niño–Southern Oscillation event led to SST and primary production changes, likely impacting whale resource availability. Our study provides crucial insights into blue whale habitat utilization, informing adaptive management strategies to mitigate ship strike risks and address altered migration routes due to climate-driven environmental shifts.

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Insights into Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus L.) Population Movements in the Galapagos Archipelago and Southeast Pacific

Guzman,

Estévez,

Kaiser

2024

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

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Cetaceans of the Galapagos Archipelago: Species in Constant Change and the Importance of a Standardized and Long-Term Citizen Science Program

Cited by 1 publication

References 47 publications

Insights into Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus L.) Population Movements in the Galapagos Archipelago and Southeast Pacific

Insights into Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus L.) Population Movements in the Galapagos Archipelago and Southeast Pacific

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