Population size and migratory connectivity of humpback whales wintering in Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama

Abstract

From 2003 to 2009, we surveyed Las Perlas Archipelago off the Pacific coast of Panama 53 times between the months of August and October to estimate abundance of humpback whales and to test for a migratory connection with populations from the southern hemisphere. We identified 295 individuals using photo-identification of dorsal fins, including 58 calves, and the population estimate for a single season was 100-300 solitary adults plus 25-50 mothers with calves; the estimated population of animals across all seasons using a mark and recapture model was over 1,000. Eight of the 139 fluke identifications were matched to whales in photograph catalogues from the Antarctic Peninsula and a ninth was matched to a whale sighted in Chilean waters; four of these nine individuals have also been sighted in Colombia. We conclude that Panama (Las Perlas Archipelago in particular) is an important calving area for humpback whales in the Southern Hemisphere. These data should provide a foundation for monitoring of population change and to increase awareness in Panama about the need to manage vessel traffic and tourism related to the whales at Las Perlas.

Migratory preferences of humpback whales between feeding and breeding grounds in the eastern South Pacific

“…, Guzmán et al . ), and provide the first evidence that the whales that summer in the Antarctic Peninsula migrate to northern Peru. However, our main focus was to provide new insights into the spatial structuring of BSG humpback whales by testing the hypothesis of potential latitudinal preferences in their migratory behavior.…”

Short‐term recovery of humpback whales after percutaneous satellite tagging

“…The eastern South Pacific humpback whale population or breeding Stock G (International Whaling Commission ) is distributed along neritic waters from northern Peru (∼4°S) to Costa Rica (∼12°N) with known breeding sites of concentration in northern Peru (Guidino et al ), Ecuador (Scheidat et al , Félix et al ), Colombia (Flórez‐González ), Panama (Rasmussen et al , Guzman et al ), and southeastern Costa Rica (Rasmussen et al ). The stock has ≥3 summer destinations for feeding, particularly in the Patagonia Fjords, the Magellan Strait, the Corcovado Gulf in Chile, and the Gerlache Strait (64°30′S, 62°20′W) in western Antarctic Peninsula (Gibbons et al , Stevick et al , Acevedo et al , Hucke‐Gaete et al ).…”

Movements and Timing of Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) Within the Breeding Region of the Eastern South Pacific

“…Thus, an apparent relationship would exist between whale abundance and latitude. Whale abundance peaks off Panama in August and September (Guzmán et al, 2015) and off Colombia in August (Flórez-González et al, 1998); while off Ecuador, it is reported in July (Scheidat et al, 2000;Félix & Haase, 2001). In northern Peru, the peak is observed towards the end of the breeding season in September and October (Pacheco et al, 2009;Santillán, 2011;Guidino et al, 2014).…”

“…However, residence patterns and movements within the breeding region may vary within and between seasons (Baker & Herman, 1981;Calambokidis et al, 2001;Smith et al, 2012;Guzmán et al, 2015). Understanding the movement patterns within the breeding area may provide valuable information about the migration timing and habitat use by whales along the breeding grounds (e.g., Guzmán & Félix, 2017).…”

“…Eastern South Pacific humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) (Breeding Stock G, according to the International Whaling Commission [IWC], 1998) migrate from feeding grounds located mainly in the surroundings of the Antarctic Peninsula (Dalla and to a lesser extent in the Magellan Strait (Gibbons et al, 2003;Acevedo et al, 2006Acevedo et al, , 2013 and Golfo de Corcovado in southern Chile (HuckeGaete et al, 2013) to their breeding region off northern Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica (Flórez-González, 1991;Flórez-González et al, 1998;Félix & Haase, 2001;Rasmussen et al, 2007;Pacheco et al, 2009;Guidino et al, 2014;Guzmán et al, 2015). The connectivity between some feeding and breeding grounds has been demonstrated through photoidentification (Stone et al, 1990;Stevick et al, 2004;Acevedo et al, 2007;Rasmussen et al, 2007;Capella et al, 2008) and to a lesser extent with genetics (Caballero et al, 2001;Félix et al, 2012).…”