Relationship between the distribution of euphausiids and baleen whales in the Antarctic (35°E – 145°W)

Murase, Hiroto; Matsuoka, Koji; Ichii, Taro; Nishiwaki, Shigetoshi

doi:10.1007/s003000100321

Cited by 75 publications

(52 citation statements)

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“…Several studies suggest that whales might be able to identify physical features of the ocean that may lead them towards enriched prey abundances (Murase et al 2002;Friedlaender et al 2006Friedlaender et al , 2009Santora et al 2014). For example, recurrent and tidally predictable availability of krill occurrence has been shown to make areas highly attractive for whales (Cotté and Simard 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nevertheless, information on krill distribution and abundance is rarely available on the same temporal and spatial scale as data on cetacean distribution and abundance. In some studies, hydroacoustic surveys for krill conducted concurrently to a ship-based cetacean survey have been used to obtain information on the distribution and abundance of whales in relation to zooplankton abundance (Murase et al 2002;Friedlaender et al 2006). However, such approaches usually lack detailed information on species composition of the zooplankton.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Horizontal niche partitioning of humpback and fin whales around the West Antarctic Peninsula: evidence from a concurrent whale and krill survey

et al. 2016

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A dedicated aerial cetacean survey was conducted concurrently to a standardised net trawl survey for krill in order to investigate distribution patterns of large whales and different krill species and to investigate relationships of these. Distance sampling data were used to produce density surface models for humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) and fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) around the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP). Abundance for both species was estimated over two strata in the Bransfield Strait and Drake Passage. Distinct distribution patterns suggest horizontal niche partitioning of the two whale species around the WAP, with fin whales aggregating at the shelf edge of the South Shetland Islands in the Drake Passage and humpback whales in the Bransfield Strait. Krill biomass estimated from the concurrent krill survey was used along with CTD data from the same expedition, bathymetric parameters and satellite data on chlorophyll-a and ice concentration to model krill distribution. Comparisons of the predicted distributions of both whale species with the predicted distributions of Euphausia superba, Euphausia crystallorophias and Thysanoessa macrura suggest a complex relationship rather than a straightforward correlation between krill and whales. However, results indicate that fin whales were feeding in an area dominated by T. macrura, while humpback whales were found in areas of higher E. superba biomass. Our results provide abundance estimates for humpback whales and, for the first time, fin whales in the WAP and contribute important information on feeding ecology and habitat use of these two species in the Southern Ocean.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Horizontal niche partitioning of humpback and fin whales around the West Antarctic Peninsula: evidence from a concurrent whale and krill survey

et al. 2016

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“…They are often observed foraging within the same fine-scale areas (e.g. within 100-1000 m, Murase et al 2002). Due to interspecific competition, niche segregation and spatial segregation are expected between ecologically similar species (Schoener 1983).…”

Section: Baleen Whale Distributions and Implications For Interspecifimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Due to interspecific competition, niche segregation and spatial segregation are expected between ecologically similar species (Schoener 1983). Indeed, some studies have shown evidence of small-scaled niche segregation, such as foraging at different depths in the water column, foraging in different habitats, or targeting prey of different sizes (Murase et al 2002). Nevertheless, positive associations could reflect positive density dependence through facilitation.…”

Section: Baleen Whale Distributions and Implications For Interspecifimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During this season, minke whales in the Barents Sea preferentially forage on capelin, but the dietary importance of herring and krill increases when capelin abundance decreases , Smout & Lindstrøm 2007. However, little knowledge exists on minke whale-prey interactions in late summer or on interactions between fin and humpback whales and their prey in this ecosystem.Minke, fin and humpback whales often congregate in the same feeding areas, likely targeting similar prey (Piatt & Methven 1992, Murase et al 2002). In general, they seem to prefer pelagic fish to zooplankton in northern ecosystems (Murase et al 2007, Smout & Lindstrøm 2007, Witteveen et al 2008.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Baleen whale distributions and prey associations in the Barents Sea

Skern‐Mauritzen¹,

Johannesen²,

Bjørge³

et al. 2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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We investigated the spatial associations between minke Balaenoptera acutorostrata, fin B. physalus and humpback Megaptera novaeangliae whales and their prey in the Barents Sea in late summer of 2003 to 2007. During these years the abundance of their assumed primary prey, capelin Mallotus villotus, was low due to a stock collapse. The whales were therefore expected to associate with abundant herring Clupea harengus in the southern Barents Sea and krill (Euphausiacea) in the central and northern Barents Sea. The baleen whales predominantly occupied a narrow, northern area that had high densities of krill, amphipods Themisto spp., and polar cod Boreogadus saida along the northern range of the capelin distribution. A small proportion of the Barents Sea minke and fin whales occurred in the southern areas. Herring was therefore not an important prey species in the Barents Sea in this season. Ecosystem-scale associations, which were determined by spatial associations between species distributions averaged across years, indicated that krill was the predominant prey species. However, contrasting mesoscale associations with their prey in 50 km grid cells and a preference for shallow northern banks suggests that these whales have a diverse diet within a preferred habitat. Finally, positive density dependence and facilitation can be significant processes that influence whale distributions, as the 3 baleen whale species were positively associated at both ecosystem-and mesoscales. KEY WORDS: Ecosystem survey · Pelagic communities · Trophic interactions · Marine mammals Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherMar Ecol Prog Ser 426: [289][290][291][292][293][294][295][296][297][298][299][300][301] 2011 while herring and krill (Euphausiacea) were abundant (Gjøsaeter et al. 2009, Zhukova et al. 2009). The diet and prey selection of minke whales has been thoroughly studied in early summer (May to June) when the northern Barents Sea is ice-covered (e.g. , Smout & Lindstrøm 2007. During this season, minke whales in the Barents Sea preferentially forage on capelin, but the dietary importance of herring and krill increases when capelin abundance decreases , Smout & Lindstrøm 2007. However, little knowledge exists on minke whale-prey interactions in late summer or on interactions between fin and humpback whales and their prey in this ecosystem.Minke, fin and humpback whales often congregate in the same feeding areas, likely targeting similar prey (Piatt & Methven 1992, Murase et al. 2002). In general, they seem to prefer pelagic fish to zooplankton in northern ecosystems (Murase et al. 2007, Smout & Lindstrøm 2007, Witteveen et al. 2008. However, in comparison with that in early summer, the prey assemblage in late summer (e.g. August to September) may include additional species. Northern areas with high amphipod Themisto spp. (Dalpadado et al. 2001) and polar cod Boreogadus saida (Stiansen & Filin 2008) densities are exposed so these prey species become available for pelagic predators ...

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Pelagic Ecosystems in the Waters off East Antarctica (30° E–150° E)

Nicol

Raymond

2012

Antarctic Ecosystems

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Relationship between the distribution of euphausiids and baleen whales in the Antarctic (35°E – 145°W)

Cited by 75 publications

References 0 publications

Horizontal niche partitioning of humpback and fin whales around the West Antarctic Peninsula: evidence from a concurrent whale and krill survey

Horizontal niche partitioning of humpback and fin whales around the West Antarctic Peninsula: evidence from a concurrent whale and krill survey

Baleen whale distributions and prey associations in the Barents Sea

Pelagic Ecosystems in the Waters off East Antarctica (30° E–150° E)

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