Movements and Dive Behaviour of Belugas in Northern Quebec

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Three adult and three juvenile belugas were fitted with satellite-linked radio tags in eastern Hudson Bay in midAugust 1993, and one adult was tagged in mid-October 1995 in extreme northeastern Hudson Bay. The tags transmitted data on dive behaviour, and the receiving satellite calculated positions by Doppler-shift triangulation. The belugas tagged in summer in eastern Hudson Bay made no directed or long-distance movements while the tags were attached. Their range did not include the Belcher Islands, and belugas observed in aerial surveys of those islands do not appear to belong to the eastern coastal stock. The single beluga tagged in northern Quebec in October moved into the deep water of western Hudson Strait and travelled east along the southern coast of Hudson Strait, slowing up on reaching shallower water off Salluit and near Charles Island. This whale was still off Salluit when the tag stopped transmitting.All the tagged belugas dived intensively while the tags were attached, although there were individual differences, some belugas diving noticeably less than others. Dive behaviour varied over time, with periods lasting several days of concentrated diving interspersed with periods of less intense diving. 'Intense' periods entailed diving for up to 80% of the time. All belugas, even the one that was in deep water in Hudson Strait, showed dive depth characteristics that were consistent with diving usually to the bottom. However, all belugas always-even in deep water-made dives that usually lasted less than 10 min and very seldom lasted more than 12 min. Belugas tagged as pairs of adults and young showed striking correlations of dive behaviour. The data obtained indicate that it would be appropriate to correct aerial surveys by adding 85% to aerial counts.Key words: beluga, Delphinapterus leucas, dive behaviour, migration, movement, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, visibility, dive speed RÉSUMÉ. Mi-août 1993, on a équipé trois bélougas adultes et trois bélougas juvéniles de radio-émetteurs en liaison avec un satellite dans l'est de la baie d'Hudson et mi-octobre 1995 on a équipé un adulte aux confins nord-est de la baie d'Hudson. Les émetteurs ont transmis des données sur le comportement en plongée, et le satellite récepteur a calculé les positions par triangulation de décalage Doppler. Les bélougas équipés en été dans l'est de la baie d'Hudson ne se sont pas déplacés vers un endroit particulier ou sur une longue distance pendant que les émetteurs étaient fixés. Leur territoire ne comprenait pas les îles Belcher, et les bélougas observés lors de survols aériens effectués sur ces îles ne semblent pas appartenir au stock côtier oriental. Le seul bélouga équipé en octobre dans le nord du Québec s'est rendu dans les eaux profondes du détroit d'Hudson occidental dont il a longé la côte méridionale vers l'est, ralentissant au niveau des eaux moins profondes au large de Salluit et près de l'île Charles. Cette baleine était toujours au large de Salluit quand l'émetteur a cessé de fonctionner. Tous les bélougas é...

Evidence for a Decline in Northern Quebec (Nunavik) Belugas

“…This correction factor is within the 180%-290% range suggested by satellite telemetry studies that have provided dive information (see Kingsley and Gauthier, 2002) and is the same as a correction factor of 209% that can be derived from satellite transmitters deployed on belugas in eastern Hudson Bay at the same time that our surveys were flown (Kingsley et al, 2001: Table 2). It provides a minimum correction to aerial survey estimates because satellite transmitters have not been deployed on small belugas, which are less visible than adult animals (Kingsley and Gauthier, 2002).…”

“…However, we do not feel that this is a serious concern. Satellite telemetry information obtained during July and August from whales in this area indicates considerable inshore-offshore movement, but has not shown any maintained large-scale, north to southdirected movements (Kingsley et al, 2001; M.O. Hammill, D.W. Doidge, and V. Lesage, unpubl.…”

Navigating under sea ice promotes rapid maturation of diving physiology and performance in beluga whales

“…Although there are data on the at-sea swimming, diving and habitat use of beluga whales (e.g. Smith, 1992, 1999;Martin et al, 1993Martin et al, , 1998Martin et al, , 2001Heide-Jørgensen et al, 1998, 2001Kingsley et al, 2001;Citta et al, 2013;Hauser et al, 2014Hauser et al, , 2015, these studies only provide a glimpse of their capabilities and behaviors within the context of their current ecosystem. Knowledge of age-and sex-class limits for maximum dive duration and depth (Table 3), as well as the amount of submergence time at a given depth (Fig.…”

“…When comparing our theoretical assessment of maximum dive duration and depth with the foraging behaviors of free-ranging beluga whales (e.g. Smith, 1992, 1999;Martin et al, 1993Martin et al, , 1998Martin et al, , 2001Heide-Jørgensen et al, 1998, 2001Kingsley et al, 2001;Citta et al, 2013;Hauser et al, 2014Hauser et al, , 2015, we gain insight into how closely belugas are operating at their physiological capacity. Our estimates for maximum dive capacity (assuming a diving metabolism of 2× Kleiber BMR; Table 3) for a mature 754 kg female and 1016 kg male were 12.58 and 13.53 min, respectively (Table 3), and approximated the mean dive duration of 13.1 min recorded for free-ranging beluga whales (Martin and Smith, 1992) but were less than the maximum dive duration of free-ranging beluga whales (21-22.9 min; Martin and Smith, 1992;Citta et al, 2013).…”

Movements and Area Use of Belugas, <i>Delphinapterus leucas</i>, in a Subarctic Alaskan Estuary

“…Satellite telemetry has proven to be a useful tool for monitoring the movements and dive behavior of belugas Smith, 1992, 1999;Heide-Jørgensen et al, 1998;Richard et al, 1998;Kingsley et al, 2001;Suydam et al, 2001). The decrease in the size of tags (mounted on the dorsal ridge) and the increase in tag longevity (both battery life and attachment time) have facilitated the remote and continuous collection of data from individual whales for many months at a time.…”