Local and migratory movements of Hawaiian humpback whales tracked by satellite telemetry
We examined inter-island movements and offshore migrations of six humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) tagged during March and April 1995 with satellite-monitored radio tags off Kaua´i, Hawai´i. The tags transmitted 0.5-17 days ( x bar = 8.5 ± 2.7 days) and produced 1-66 locations that met our s...
Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
1998
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z98-008 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z98-008 |
id |
crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z98-008 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z98-008 2024-06-23T07:54:33+00:00 Local and migratory movements of Hawaiian humpback whales tracked by satellite telemetry Mate, Bruce R Gisiner, Robert Mobley, Joseph 1998 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z98-008 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z98-008 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 76, issue 5, page 863-868 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 journal-article 1998 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z98-008 2024-06-06T04:11:16Z We examined inter-island movements and offshore migrations of six humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) tagged during March and April 1995 with satellite-monitored radio tags off Kaua´i, Hawai´i. The tags transmitted 0.5-17 days ( x bar = 8.5 ± 2.7 days) and produced 1-66 locations that met our screening criteria. Total travel distances per individual ranged from 30 to 1860 km. After screening criteria were applied, satellite-acquired locations ranged from 1.8 to 3.9/day for individuals (group average 2.7/day). One adult traveled 250 km to O´ahu in 4 days. Another visited Penguin Bank and five islands (820 km) in 10 days, suggesting faster inter-island movement than had been previously thought. Three whales traveled independent, parallel courses toward the upper Gulf of Alaska on north-northeast headings. A female with a calf was the fastest: 670 km in 4.5 days (150 km/day). Two whales traveled for 14.7 and 17 days, an average speed of 110 km/day (4.5 km/h). A 4200-km migration to the upper Gulf of Alaska at that speed would take 39 days. If the fastest whale's speed was maintained on a straight course, the entire migration could be accomplished in as little time as 28 days. Based on the two longest tracks, the first third of the migration route is within 1° of magnetic north. These data represent the first route and travel speeds for humpbacks migrating from Hawai´i toward Alaska. Article in Journal/Newspaper Megaptera novaeangliae Alaska Canadian Science Publishing Five Islands ENVELOPE(-69.415,-69.415,60.184,60.184) Gulf of Alaska Canadian Journal of Zoology 76 5 863 868 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Canadian Science Publishing |
op_collection_id |
crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
description |
We examined inter-island movements and offshore migrations of six humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) tagged during March and April 1995 with satellite-monitored radio tags off Kaua´i, Hawai´i. The tags transmitted 0.5-17 days ( x bar = 8.5 ± 2.7 days) and produced 1-66 locations that met our screening criteria. Total travel distances per individual ranged from 30 to 1860 km. After screening criteria were applied, satellite-acquired locations ranged from 1.8 to 3.9/day for individuals (group average 2.7/day). One adult traveled 250 km to O´ahu in 4 days. Another visited Penguin Bank and five islands (820 km) in 10 days, suggesting faster inter-island movement than had been previously thought. Three whales traveled independent, parallel courses toward the upper Gulf of Alaska on north-northeast headings. A female with a calf was the fastest: 670 km in 4.5 days (150 km/day). Two whales traveled for 14.7 and 17 days, an average speed of 110 km/day (4.5 km/h). A 4200-km migration to the upper Gulf of Alaska at that speed would take 39 days. If the fastest whale's speed was maintained on a straight course, the entire migration could be accomplished in as little time as 28 days. Based on the two longest tracks, the first third of the migration route is within 1° of magnetic north. These data represent the first route and travel speeds for humpbacks migrating from Hawai´i toward Alaska. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Mate, Bruce R Gisiner, Robert Mobley, Joseph |
spellingShingle |
Mate, Bruce R Gisiner, Robert Mobley, Joseph Local and migratory movements of Hawaiian humpback whales tracked by satellite telemetry |
author_facet |
Mate, Bruce R Gisiner, Robert Mobley, Joseph |
author_sort |
Mate, Bruce R |
title |
Local and migratory movements of Hawaiian humpback whales tracked by satellite telemetry |
title_short |
Local and migratory movements of Hawaiian humpback whales tracked by satellite telemetry |
title_full |
Local and migratory movements of Hawaiian humpback whales tracked by satellite telemetry |
title_fullStr |
Local and migratory movements of Hawaiian humpback whales tracked by satellite telemetry |
title_full_unstemmed |
Local and migratory movements of Hawaiian humpback whales tracked by satellite telemetry |
title_sort |
local and migratory movements of hawaiian humpback whales tracked by satellite telemetry |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
1998 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z98-008 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z98-008 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-69.415,-69.415,60.184,60.184) |
geographic |
Five Islands Gulf of Alaska |
geographic_facet |
Five Islands Gulf of Alaska |
genre |
Megaptera novaeangliae Alaska |
genre_facet |
Megaptera novaeangliae Alaska |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 76, issue 5, page 863-868 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z98-008 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
76 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
863 |
op_container_end_page |
868 |
_version_ |
1802646733759447040 |