Behavioural reactions of wintering humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) to biopsy sampling in the western South Atlantic
Molecular analysis has become a powerful tool in cetacean ecology since it supports efficient conservation policies. Remote biopsy sampling is the most efficient method to obtain epithelial material for analysis purposes; however, as an intrusive technique it presents inherent costs, evidenced by be...
Published in: | Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom |
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315409991561 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315409991561 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0025315409991561 2024-03-03T08:46:26+00:00 Behavioural reactions of wintering humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) to biopsy sampling in the western South Atlantic Cantor, Mauricio Cachuba, Taiana Fernandes, Luena Engel, Márcia H. 2010 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315409991561 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315409991561 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom volume 90, issue 8, page 1701-1711 ISSN 0025-3154 1469-7769 Aquatic Science journal-article 2010 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0025315409991561 2024-02-08T08:43:56Z Molecular analysis has become a powerful tool in cetacean ecology since it supports efficient conservation policies. Remote biopsy sampling is the most efficient method to obtain epithelial material for analysis purposes; however, as an intrusive technique it presents inherent costs, evidenced by behavioural reactions. Clarifying which factors influence these responses is essential to assess its impact and prevent possible long-term effects. For eleven winters, samples from humpback whales were collected in the Abrolhos Bank, the main breeding ground of this species in the western South Atlantic. We analysed the influence of several characteristics of the shot, vessels, groups and behaviour on the frequency and intensity of the whales' response. The majority of biopsied whales did not show any detectable response. Among those that responded, a low-level category of reaction was most frequent. The use of larger boats resulted in less intense responses. Responses were influenced by group size and behavioural state: large groups, which were involved in aggressive mating behaviour, reacted less frequently than smaller groups. Females with calves showed less intense reactions than non-lactating females. The behaviour of the animals prior to and during the boat approach also affected their response: resting whales responded more intensely than whales involved in social or travel activities. Comparison with previous studies confirmed that reactions vary in intensity according to location: whales biopsied in feeding grounds responded with more intensity than those in breeding grounds, which in turn responded more intensely than whales in migration. This study reinforces existing evidence that biopsy sampling is unlikely to have long-term effects and can thus continue to be used as one of the main tools to access information which is vital for conservation. Article in Journal/Newspaper Megaptera novaeangliae Cambridge University Press Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 90 8 1701 1711 |
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Cambridge University Press |
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language |
English |
topic |
Aquatic Science |
spellingShingle |
Aquatic Science Cantor, Mauricio Cachuba, Taiana Fernandes, Luena Engel, Márcia H. Behavioural reactions of wintering humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) to biopsy sampling in the western South Atlantic |
topic_facet |
Aquatic Science |
description |
Molecular analysis has become a powerful tool in cetacean ecology since it supports efficient conservation policies. Remote biopsy sampling is the most efficient method to obtain epithelial material for analysis purposes; however, as an intrusive technique it presents inherent costs, evidenced by behavioural reactions. Clarifying which factors influence these responses is essential to assess its impact and prevent possible long-term effects. For eleven winters, samples from humpback whales were collected in the Abrolhos Bank, the main breeding ground of this species in the western South Atlantic. We analysed the influence of several characteristics of the shot, vessels, groups and behaviour on the frequency and intensity of the whales' response. The majority of biopsied whales did not show any detectable response. Among those that responded, a low-level category of reaction was most frequent. The use of larger boats resulted in less intense responses. Responses were influenced by group size and behavioural state: large groups, which were involved in aggressive mating behaviour, reacted less frequently than smaller groups. Females with calves showed less intense reactions than non-lactating females. The behaviour of the animals prior to and during the boat approach also affected their response: resting whales responded more intensely than whales involved in social or travel activities. Comparison with previous studies confirmed that reactions vary in intensity according to location: whales biopsied in feeding grounds responded with more intensity than those in breeding grounds, which in turn responded more intensely than whales in migration. This study reinforces existing evidence that biopsy sampling is unlikely to have long-term effects and can thus continue to be used as one of the main tools to access information which is vital for conservation. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Cantor, Mauricio Cachuba, Taiana Fernandes, Luena Engel, Márcia H. |
author_facet |
Cantor, Mauricio Cachuba, Taiana Fernandes, Luena Engel, Márcia H. |
author_sort |
Cantor, Mauricio |
title |
Behavioural reactions of wintering humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) to biopsy sampling in the western South Atlantic |
title_short |
Behavioural reactions of wintering humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) to biopsy sampling in the western South Atlantic |
title_full |
Behavioural reactions of wintering humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) to biopsy sampling in the western South Atlantic |
title_fullStr |
Behavioural reactions of wintering humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) to biopsy sampling in the western South Atlantic |
title_full_unstemmed |
Behavioural reactions of wintering humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) to biopsy sampling in the western South Atlantic |
title_sort |
behavioural reactions of wintering humpback whales ( megaptera novaeangliae ) to biopsy sampling in the western south atlantic |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2010 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315409991561 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315409991561 |
genre |
Megaptera novaeangliae |
genre_facet |
Megaptera novaeangliae |
op_source |
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom volume 90, issue 8, page 1701-1711 ISSN 0025-3154 1469-7769 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0025315409991561 |
container_title |
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom |
container_volume |
90 |
container_issue |
8 |
container_start_page |
1701 |
op_container_end_page |
1711 |
_version_ |
1792502463444549632 |