Sharp decline in humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) survival and reproductive success in southeastern Alaska during and after the 2014–2016 Northeast Pacific marine heatwave

Gabriele, Christine M.; Amundson, Courtney L.; Neilson, Janet L.; Straley, Janice M.; Baker, C. Scott; Danielson, Seth L.

doi:10.1007/s42991-021-00187-2

Cited by 38 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 90 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In these areas, both non-calf and calf abundance decreased between 2013 and 2018, and then appeared to rebound in 2019-2020. The time lag in onset of population impact between the Alaskan and Hawaiian regions is consistent with the view that the PMH (augmented by a strong El Niño and positive PDO) likely negatively impacted humpback whale prey availability on the feeding grounds first, which may have in turn affected migratory arrivals and/or reproductive readiness of humpbacks on the Hawaiian wintering grounds (Frankel et al, 2022; Gabriele et al, 2022). Collectively these studies suggest that, despite the recovery of the Hawai’i DPS from commercial whaling (Barlow et al 2011; Calambokidis et al 2008), it remains fragile and susceptible to natural and anthropogenic threats, requiring continued monitoring, research and protection.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 79%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Aerial survey perspectives on humpback whale resiliency in Maui Nui, Hawai’i, in the face of an unprecedented North Pacific marine warming event

Mobley

Deakos²,

Pack

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

After decades of population growth, the central stock of the North Pacific population of humpback whales, known as the Hawai'i Distinct Population Segment (HDPS), was delisted from its endangered status in 2016. At that time, however, an unprecedented heating event, the "Pacific Marine Heatwave" (PMH) was already underway. The PMH coincided with reports of major declines of sightings of humpback whales, including calves of the year, on both the Hawaiian wintering grounds and the feeding grounds of Southeast Alaska. To examine the resiliency of the Hawai'i Distinct Population Segment, we conducted aerial surveys of the high- density Maui Nui region immediately following the PMH event in 2019 and 2020, using distance sampling methods identical to those used in an earlier series (1993 to 2003). Results showed whale densities at or above those seen earlier, with mean density for 2020 highest overall. Crude birth rates (% groups containing a calf) were similarly comparable to those recorded in the earlier series, with an increase from 2019 to 2020. Overall, results suggest the central North Pacific humpback whale population stock to be resilient in the face of this major climatic event.

show abstract

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…Similar declines in humpback whale numbers were reported in feeding grounds of the Hawai’i DPS in southeastern Alaska including Glacier Bay, but starting as early as 2013 (Gabriele et al, 2022). In these areas, both non-calf and calf abundance decreased between 2013 and 2018, and then appeared to rebound in 2019-2020.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 59%

Aerial survey perspectives on humpback whale resiliency in Maui Nui, Hawai’i, in the face of an unprecedented North Pacific marine warming event

Mobley

Deakos²,

Pack

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…An increase in frequency of the A8 haplotype in SEAK will reflect reproductive success and local fidelity of the two existing A8 individuals as well as any new A8 females that might arise through a parallel fixation of the A-/A8 heteroplasmy. As regional photo-identification and biopsy sampling are ongoing for humpback whales in SEAK and other regions of Alaska (e.g., Gabriele et al 2022), it is also possible to relate the dispersal of this newly arising maternal lineage to more conventional measures of maternal gene flow.…”

Section: Regional Fidelity and Rise Of A New Maternal Lineagementioning

confidence: 99%

mtDNA heteroplasmy gives rise to a new maternal lineage in North Pacific humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)

Pierszalowski

Steel

Gabriele³

et al. 2022

Journal of Heredity

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Heteroplasmy in the mitochondrial genome offers a rare opportunity to track the evolution of a newly arising maternal lineage in populations of non-model species. Here, we identified a previously unreported mitochondrial DNA haplotype while assembling an integrated database of DNA profiles and photo-identification records from humpback whales in southeastern Alaska (SEAK). The haplotype, referred to as A8, was shared by only two individuals, a mature female with her female calf, and differed by only a single base pair from a common haplotype in the North Pacific, referred to as A-. To investigate the origins of the A8 haplotype, we reviewed n = 1,089 electropherograms (including replicate samples) of n = 710 individuals with A- haplotypes from an existing collection. From this review, we found 20 individuals with clear evidence of heteroplasmy for A-/A8 (parental/derived) haplotypes. Of these, 15 were encountered in SEAK, four were encountered on the Hawaiian breeding ground (the primary migratory destination for whales in SEAK) and one was encountered in the northern Gulf of Alaska. We used genotype exclusion and likelihood to identify one of the heteroplasmic females as the likely mother of the A8 cow and grandmother of the A8 calf, establishing the inheritance and germ-line fixation of the new haplotype from the parental heteroplasmy. The mutation leading to this heteroplasmy and the fixation of the A8 haplotype provide an opportunity to document the population dynamics and regional fidelity of a newly arising maternal lineage in a population recovering from exploitation.

show abstract

“…The evaluation of the quality of critical habitats (feeding, reproduction, and migration areas) can be done through indicator species (Gregr and Trites, 2001;Bailleul et al, 2012;Trudelle et al, 2016). In this sense, the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is considered an indicator species because its abundance, reproductive success, distribution, and diet are affected by abnormal environmental conditions (Fleming et al, 2016;Schall et al, 2021;Gabriele et al, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During El Niño conditions the upwelling weakens, the thermocline deepens, and warm subtropical water enters the California Current, which causes low productivity and changes in prey availability for humpback whales (Fleming et al, 2016;Cartwright et al, 2019;Gabriele et al, 2022). Low prey availability can mean that humpback whales do not have sufficient energy reserves to complete the migration, gestation or to ensure the survival of their calves, which can have longterm negative effects on the population (Cartwright et al, 2019;Kershaw et al, 2021;Gabriele et al, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decreases in encounter rate of endangered Northeast Pacific humpback whales in Southern Costa Rica: Possible changes in migration pattern due to warming events

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Warming events in the Pacific Ocean are becoming more frequent, intense, and on a larger temporal and spatial scale. This has caused critical habitats of marine species to lose their quality and marine organisms respond by modifying their critical feeding and reproduction behaviors, as well as their distribution. The Northeast Pacific humpback whale of the Central America distinct population segment (DPS) remains Endangered due to its small population size and because its response to climate change and human interventions is unknown. In this work, we showed the encounter rates of humpback whales in their breeding grounds in Costa Rica for breeding seasons comprised in the period 2000-2020. We analyze the influence of climatic indices that influence the Pacific and environmental variables related to temperature and productivity in the feeding grounds of this population (United States). We hypothesize that the more intense the warming events, the fewer humpback whales complete their migration to Costa Rica. We conclude that the humpback whales of this population could be finding thermally favorable areas in intermediate latitudes (p. e.g., Mexican-Guatemala coasts), which could be related to the decreases in the presence of humpback whale adults and calves in Costa Rica. These observed changes could inform how humpback whales might respond to climate change.

show abstract

Sharp decline in humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) survival and reproductive success in southeastern Alaska during and after the 2014–2016 Northeast Pacific marine heatwave

Cited by 38 publications

References 90 publications

Aerial survey perspectives on humpback whale resiliency in Maui Nui, Hawai’i, in the face of an unprecedented North Pacific marine warming event

Aerial survey perspectives on humpback whale resiliency in Maui Nui, Hawai’i, in the face of an unprecedented North Pacific marine warming event

mtDNA heteroplasmy gives rise to a new maternal lineage in North Pacific humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)

Decreases in encounter rate of endangered Northeast Pacific humpback whales in Southern Costa Rica: Possible changes in migration pattern due to warming events

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About