Observations of Humpback Whales (&lt;I&gt;Megaptera novaeangliae&lt;/I&gt;) Feeding During Their Southward Migration Along the Coast of Southeastern New South Wales, Australia: Identification of a Possible Supplemental Feeding Ground

Stamation, Kasey; Croft, David B.; Shaughnessy, Peter D.; Waples, Kelly

doi:10.1578/am.33.2.2007.165

Cited by 52 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…More specifically, the sampling location (Cheynes Beach Whaling Station) is located approximately 3000 km north of the BSD feeding grounds [32] and, contrary to that observed in some other humpback whale populations [55], there is no evidence of feeding during migration. Thus, the energy difference at the beginning of the migration would be expected to decrease continually throughout the season [32], until the humpback whales return to their feeding grounds and resume foraging.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying the energy stores of capital breeding humpback whales and income breeding sperm whales using historical whaling records

Irvine

Thums

Hanson³

et al. 2017

R. Soc. open sci.

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Cetacean energy stores are known to vary according to life history, reproductive status and time of year; however, the opportunity to quantify these relationships is rare. Using a unique set of historical whaling records from Western Australia (1952–1963), we investigated energy stores of large cetaceans with differing life histories, and quantified the relationship between total body lipid and length for humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) (n = 905) and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) (n = 1961). We found that total body lipid increased with body length in both humpback and sperm whales, consistent with size-related energy stores. Male humpback whales stored 2.49 kl (15.6 barrels) (31.9–74.9%) more lipid than male sperm whales of equivalent length, to fuel their annual migration. Relative lipid stores of sperm whales (males) were constant throughout the year, while those of humpback whales varied with reproductive class and sampling date. Pregnant female humpback whales had higher relative energy stores than non-pregnant females and males (26.2% and 37.4%, respectively), to fuel the energy demands of gestation and lactation. Those that reached the sampling site later (en route to their breeding grounds) carried higher lipid stores than those that arrived earlier, possibly reflecting individual variation in residency times in the Antarctic feeding grounds. Importantly, longer pregnant females had relatively larger energy stores than the shorter pregnant females, indicating that the smaller individuals may experience higher levels of energetic stress during the migration fast. The relationships we developed between body lipid and length can be used to inform bioenergetics and ecosystem models when such detailed information is not available.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying the energy stores of capital breeding humpback whales and income breeding sperm whales using historical whaling records

Irvine

Thums

Hanson³

et al. 2017

R. Soc. open sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In this study, many calf pods approached vessels that may have interrupted other activities important for their development like socializing and play. There is evidence that approaches by pods interrupt foraging (Stamation et al 2007). Feeding pods were seen on 24.5% of all whale‐watching trips and in 10% of these observations, pods suspended feeding to approach the whale‐watching vessel (Stamation et al 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is evidence that approaches by pods interrupt foraging (Stamation et al 2007). Feeding pods were seen on 24.5% of all whale‐watching trips and in 10% of these observations, pods suspended feeding to approach the whale‐watching vessel (Stamation et al 2007). The effect of whale‐watching vessels on whale resting or suckling times was not examined in this study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral responses of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) to whale-watching vessels on the southeastern coast of Australia

Stamation¹,

Croft

Shaughnessy

et al. 2009

Marine Mammal Science

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This study assessed the short‐term responses of humpback whales to whale‐watching vessels during their southward migration along the south coast of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The behavior of pods was recorded from commercial whale‐watching vessels during tours and compared to pods observed in the absence of vessels from the shore in the same area. While some individuals showed obvious signs of horizontal avoidance, others approached vessels, initiating interactions. Calf pods were more sensitive to the presence of vessels than non‐calf pods. Dive times and the overall percentage of time whales spent submerged were higher in the presence of vessels, but respiration intervals did not differ. Some surface behaviors occurred less often in the presence of vessels. Whales' responses differed according to whether vessels were operating in accordance with regulations or not. Whales were more likely to avoid a vessel moving within the permitted 100 m approach limit than vessels outside the limit. Whales showed some behavioral changes when vessels operated in accordance with whale‐watching regulations, compared with whales in the absence of vessels. Pods that showed no obvious horizontal responses to vessels changed their diving and surface activity when compared with pods in the absence of vessels. Because the long‐term impacts of effects of vessels are unknown, management of the humpback whale‐watching industry should adopt a conservative approach. Improved knowledge of long‐term impacts of multiple exposures to vessels is required to inform management of the effects of whale‐watching.

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“…Furthermore, winter feeding has been documented in many populations, including at breeding grounds off Baja California (Gendron & Urban ) and on the migratory journey off the coast of Australia (Stamation et al. ).…”

Section: Mediterranean Fin Whale Migration In Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mysticete migration revisited: are Mediterranean fin whales an anomaly?

2016

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1.The generally accepted model of Mysticete whale migration is that most individuals undertake seasonal migrations between high and low latitudes. Although numerous exceptions have been described in the literature, the traditional model remains unexamined. This paper represents the first 'official' challenge to the traditional model of Mysticete migration. 2. We set out to review the current state of knowledge on the Mediterranean fin whale migratory pattern, and to examine whether the small, resident population in the Mediterranean is an anomaly within the framework of the traditional model of Mysticete migration. We investigated the prevalence of alternative migratory strategies among the Mysticete whales, reviewing the migratory habits of the Mediterranean fin whales and those of other fin whale and baleen whale populations. 3. We reach three main conclusions. First, the seasonal behaviour of the resident Mediterranean fin whales is highly dynamic, and a decade of research has not clarified prevailing uncertainties regarding migration patterns. Second, migration strategies similar to those observed in the Mediterranean fin whales are commonly seen in other populations of baleen whales. Third, the traditional model of whale migration is too simplified to describe the repertoire of Mysticete migratory behaviours accurately. 4. We argue that the paradigm of baleen whale migration warrants further scrutiny to account for more complex movement strategies. We suggest that Mysticete migration should be thought of as a continuum of different strategies that have evolved in the face of different selective pressures. Instead of representing an exception to the rule, the resident Mediterranean fin whales may in fact fall towards one end of a larger spectrum of migratory behaviours. A greater knowledge of ecological factors, reproductive patterns, and local adaptations will be needed to understand the evolutionary mechanisms behind the diversity of migratory habits. bs_bs_banner

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Observations of Humpback Whales (<I>Megaptera novaeangliae</I>) Feeding During Their Southward Migration Along the Coast of Southeastern New South Wales, Australia: Identification of a Possible Supplemental Feeding Ground

Cited by 52 publications

References 25 publications

Quantifying the energy stores of capital breeding humpback whales and income breeding sperm whales using historical whaling records

Quantifying the energy stores of capital breeding humpback whales and income breeding sperm whales using historical whaling records

Behavioral responses of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) to whale-watching vessels on the southeastern coast of Australia

Mysticete migration revisited: are Mediterranean fin whales an anomaly?

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