Historic and current distribution patterns, and minimum abundance of killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) in the north-west Atlantic
This study represents the first comprehensive examination of the distribution and abundance of killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) in the north-west Atlantic. Based on a collation of sightings data and a multi-year photographic catalogue of killer whales, 836 sighting events have been recorded between 17...
Published in: | Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom |
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315413001409 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315413001409 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0025315413001409 2024-04-28T08:28:58+00:00 Historic and current distribution patterns, and minimum abundance of killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) in the north-west Atlantic Lawson, Jack W. Stevens, Tara S. 2013 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315413001409 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315413001409 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom volume 94, issue 6, page 1253-1265 ISSN 0025-3154 1469-7769 Aquatic Science journal-article 2013 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0025315413001409 2024-04-09T06:56:19Z This study represents the first comprehensive examination of the distribution and abundance of killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) in the north-west Atlantic. Based on a collation of sightings data and a multi-year photographic catalogue of killer whales, 836 sighting events have been recorded between 1758 and 2012, with most occurring in the last ten years. Killer whales were most commonly observed during June–September in Newfoundland/Labrador, Canada. Most sightings were made close to shore, although many occurred beyond coastal shelf areas and in water depths in excess of 3000 m. Relatively fewer sightings were recorded on the Scotian Shelf, in the Gulf of St Lawrence or the north-eastern USA, despite appreciable aerial and vessel-based cetacean survey effort. In the north-west Atlantic, killer whales have been sighted both alone and in groups, with group sizes ranging from 2 to 30 whales (rarely more than 15, although an aggregation of 100 was reported 43 years ago). Groups usually comprised 2–6 individuals. Based on photographic records, there are at least 67 identified killer whales in the northwest Atlantic; this is an underestimate, since a large portion of our image collection was not of sufficient quality to be considered in the analysis, and many of the whales do not have easily discernible markings. The discovery curve of newly-identified whales has not plateaued, suggesting that there are more whales to identify. These data allow us to better understand the ecology of these killer whales, and provide a baseline against which population changes and distribution patterns can be assessed. Article in Journal/Newspaper Newfoundland North West Atlantic Northwest Atlantic Orca Orcinus orca Cambridge University Press Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 94 6 1253 1265 |
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Cambridge University Press |
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English |
topic |
Aquatic Science |
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Aquatic Science Lawson, Jack W. Stevens, Tara S. Historic and current distribution patterns, and minimum abundance of killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) in the north-west Atlantic |
topic_facet |
Aquatic Science |
description |
This study represents the first comprehensive examination of the distribution and abundance of killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) in the north-west Atlantic. Based on a collation of sightings data and a multi-year photographic catalogue of killer whales, 836 sighting events have been recorded between 1758 and 2012, with most occurring in the last ten years. Killer whales were most commonly observed during June–September in Newfoundland/Labrador, Canada. Most sightings were made close to shore, although many occurred beyond coastal shelf areas and in water depths in excess of 3000 m. Relatively fewer sightings were recorded on the Scotian Shelf, in the Gulf of St Lawrence or the north-eastern USA, despite appreciable aerial and vessel-based cetacean survey effort. In the north-west Atlantic, killer whales have been sighted both alone and in groups, with group sizes ranging from 2 to 30 whales (rarely more than 15, although an aggregation of 100 was reported 43 years ago). Groups usually comprised 2–6 individuals. Based on photographic records, there are at least 67 identified killer whales in the northwest Atlantic; this is an underestimate, since a large portion of our image collection was not of sufficient quality to be considered in the analysis, and many of the whales do not have easily discernible markings. The discovery curve of newly-identified whales has not plateaued, suggesting that there are more whales to identify. These data allow us to better understand the ecology of these killer whales, and provide a baseline against which population changes and distribution patterns can be assessed. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lawson, Jack W. Stevens, Tara S. |
author_facet |
Lawson, Jack W. Stevens, Tara S. |
author_sort |
Lawson, Jack W. |
title |
Historic and current distribution patterns, and minimum abundance of killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) in the north-west Atlantic |
title_short |
Historic and current distribution patterns, and minimum abundance of killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) in the north-west Atlantic |
title_full |
Historic and current distribution patterns, and minimum abundance of killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) in the north-west Atlantic |
title_fullStr |
Historic and current distribution patterns, and minimum abundance of killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) in the north-west Atlantic |
title_full_unstemmed |
Historic and current distribution patterns, and minimum abundance of killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) in the north-west Atlantic |
title_sort |
historic and current distribution patterns, and minimum abundance of killer whales ( orcinus orca ) in the north-west atlantic |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315413001409 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315413001409 |
genre |
Newfoundland North West Atlantic Northwest Atlantic Orca Orcinus orca |
genre_facet |
Newfoundland North West Atlantic Northwest Atlantic Orca Orcinus orca |
op_source |
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom volume 94, issue 6, page 1253-1265 ISSN 0025-3154 1469-7769 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0025315413001409 |
container_title |
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom |
container_volume |
94 |
container_issue |
6 |
container_start_page |
1253 |
op_container_end_page |
1265 |
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1797587333236654080 |