Towards the definition of the humpback whale population units along the Mexican and Central American coasts in the Pacific Ocean

Martínez‐Loustalot, Pamela; Audley, Katherina; Cheeseman, Ted; Weerdt, Joëlle De; Frisch‐Jordán, Astrid; Guzón‐Zatarain, Oscar R.; Olio, Marilia; Ortega‐Ortiz, Christian D.; Ransome, Nicola; Villegas‐Zurita, Francisco; Urbán, Jorge

doi:10.1111/mms.12980

Cited by 12 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Despite the tremendous amount of data available for humpbacks in the North Pacific, delineating migratory herds remains challenging in many areas, particularly from the less-accessible feeding areas in Alaska and Russia. Even for the Central America wintering aggregation, which is composed of a single herd, stratifying by geography is problematic because data collected since the SPLASH study suggest that the Central America wintering aggregation extends into southern Mexico (Martínez-Loustalot et al, 2022), and may overlap in range with the herds that winter along the coast of northern Mexico (Ortega-Ortiz et al, 2022;Taylor et al, 2021). The situation is even more challenging in other wintering aggregations, where not only are there individuals from multiple feeding areas, but a growing body of data challenging our understanding of geographic structure within and possible connections between wintering grounds (Darling et al, 2019b;Derville et al, 2020;Garrigue et al, 2015;Lammers et al, 2023).…”

Section: Limitations and Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The migratory whale herd concept: A novel unit to conserve under the ecological paradigm

Martien

Taylor

Lang

et al. 2023

Marine Mammal Science

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Photographic and genetic studies have revealed the complex population structure of migratory large whales. Most research and management are geographically based, focusing on either wintering or summering areas, which in most cases fails to capture this complexity. We use examples from humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) to illustrate the concept of migratory herds, defined here as conspecific whales that migrate between the same wintering and feeding ground. In cases where individuals show strong fidelity to both feeding and wintering grounds, and therefore to a herd, dispersal between herds can be low enough to render them as demographically independent populations, where population dynamics are determined more by net internal recruitment (births minus deaths) than by immigration from outside sources. In these cases, the migratory whale herd is the appropriate unit to conserve under the ecological paradigm that focuses on groups united by demographic forces. We suggest that when addressing questions focused on ecological timescales for whale species with strong fidelity to migratory destinations, the migratory whale herd is a better initial working hypothesis rather than one based on geographically defined strata.

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Section: Limitations and Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The migratory whale herd concept: A novel unit to conserve under the ecological paradigm

Martien

Taylor

Lang

et al. 2023

Marine Mammal Science

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“…Numerous studies have aimed to improve our understanding of the population structure of humpback whales in their wintering areas in the North Pacific (Baker et al, 1993(Baker et al, , 1994(Baker et al, , 2013Barlow et al, 2011;Bettridge et al, 2015;Calambokidis et al, 2001;González-Peral, 2011;Martien et al, 2020;Martínez-Loustalot et al, 2020Medrano-González et al, 1995;Urbán R. et al, 2000Urbán R. et al, , 2017. However, there are still considerable gaps in our knowledge (Hill et al, 2020;Lammers et al, 2023).…”

Section: Distributions Of the Mexican And Central American Wintering ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, recent genetic and photo-identification analyses have suggested that its range extends into southern, and possibly central, Mexico (Martien et al, 2021;Martinez-Loustalot et al, 2020Taylor et al, 2021). Significant mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genetic differentiation was observed when comparing whales from the southern Mexico states of Guerrero (GRO) and Oaxaca (OAX) to BB and BC (in northern Mexico), but not when comparing to whales sampled off Central America (CEA) (Martínez-Loustalot et al, 2020). Photo-identification analysis showed rates of movement were high between Nicaragua and GRO/OAX, intermediate between BB, the central Mexico state of Colima (COL), and GRO/OAX, but low between RA and all other areas (Martínez-Loustalot et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Significant mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genetic differentiation was observed when comparing whales from the southern Mexico states of Guerrero (GRO) and Oaxaca (OAX) to BB and BC (in northern Mexico), but not when comparing to whales sampled off Central America (CEA) (Martínez-Loustalot et al, 2020). Photo-identification analysis showed rates of movement were high between Nicaragua and GRO/OAX, intermediate between BB, the central Mexico state of Colima (COL), and GRO/OAX, but low between RA and all other areas (Martínez-Loustalot et al, 2020). Martínez-Loustalot et al (2022) noted that some of the apparent interchange between BB, COL, and GRO/OAX could result from animals being photographed off BB and COL during their migration to points further south.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Photo-identification analysis showed rates of movement were high between Nicaragua and GRO/OAX, intermediate between BB, the central Mexico state of Colima (COL), and GRO/OAX, but low between RA and all other areas (Martínez-Loustalot et al, 2020). Martínez-Loustalot et al (2022) noted that some of the apparent interchange between BB, COL, and GRO/OAX could result from animals being photographed off BB and COL during their migration to points further south. They concluded that the CEA wintering aggregation extends into the central and southern Mexico states of COL, and GRO/OAX, though they noted that the small sample size from COL precluded a firm conclusion regarding its affinity (Martínez-Loustalot et al, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic data reveal wintering ground affiliation of humpback whales from the Mexican Central Pacific

Llamas‐González,

Ortega‐Ortiz,

Enríquez‐Paredes

et al. 2023

Marine Mammal Science

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Two groups of humpback whales inhabit the waters off the Pacific coast of Mexico the coastal wintering aggregation in the north (MX), and the southern Mexico/Central America wintering aggregation (S‐MX/CEA) in the south. However, along the coast of the Mexican Central Pacific (MCP), the population affiliation of humpback whales is uncertain. Some studies have concluded that the MCP whales are part of S‐MX/CEA, while others have suggested that the MCP may represent an overlap zone between the two wintering aggregations. In this study, data from 354 biopsy samples were collected over a 12‐year period, to provide insight from genetic information into the affiliation of MCP whales to and the boundaries between the wintering aggregations. Using mitochondrial control region sequences, we found that the majority (73%) of MCP whales are part of MX, but that the boundary between the two wintering aggregations may shift latitudinally depending on environmental conditions. The high haplotypic (h ± SD = 0.859 ± 0.0138) and nucleotide diversity (π ± SD = 0.0145 ± 0.0075) of the MCP whales are also consistent with our sample, including animals from both wintering aggregations. More research is needed to better describe the ranges of the MX and S‐MX/CEA wintering aggregations to ensure their successful conservation and management.

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New urban habitat for endangered humpback whales: San Francisco Bay

Markowitz,

Keener,

Webber

et al. 2024

Aquatic Conservation

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As populations of large whales recover from whaling, species that forage and breed in coastal waters, including the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), increasingly overlap with human activities. This represents a potential hazard in locations worldwide subject to intensive vessel traffic, including New York, Panama City and Brisbane. Historically, humpback whales were not considered part of San Francisco Bay's fauna, except for a few ‘lost’ whales that wandered into the estuary. An unprecedented influx of humpback whales into highly urbanized San Francisco Bay began in 2016. Research efforts in 2016–2018 from vessels and shore resulted in 496 photo‐identification records plus 319 visual sightings. Sixty‐one individuals were photo‐identified, of which 80% (n = 49) used the bay on multiple days (range = 2 to 39), and 34% (n = 21) were resighted in successive years. Whales photographed in San Francisco Bay were found to belong to distinct population segments listed as endangered and threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Whales moved in and out of the bay seasonally (April–November). Habitat use patterns indicated movements farther into San Francisco Bay correlated positively with high tides. Humpback whales were visually observed lunge feeding on northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax) at the surface. Analysis of dive patterns by three tagged whales confirmed subsurface feeding when surface feeding was not apparent. The use of San Francisco Bay and adjacent waters by recovering populations of humpback whales exacerbates the potential for collisions with vessels, entanglement in fishing gear, and harassment by recreational vessels. The most pressing conservation concern is the risk of ship strikes, observed where humpback whales occur near active seaports.

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Towards the definition of the humpback whale population units along the Mexican and Central American coasts in the Pacific Ocean

Abstract: The SPLASH project (2004)(2005)(2006) revealed complex population structure and migratory connections, but no regional effort was made along the southern Mexican Pacific coast until dedicated research was initiated in 2010. It is unclear

Cited by 12 publications

References 49 publications

The migratory whale herd concept: A novel unit to conserve under the ecological paradigm

The migratory whale herd concept: A novel unit to conserve under the ecological paradigm

Genetic data reveal wintering ground affiliation of humpback whales from the Mexican Central Pacific

New urban habitat for endangered humpback whales: San Francisco Bay

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