Biologically Important Areas II for cetaceans within U.S. and adjacent waters – Gulf of Alaska Region

We delineated and scored Biologically Important Areas (BIAs) for cetacean species in the Gulf of Alaska region. BIAs represent areas and times in which cetaceans are known to concentrate for activities related to reproduction, feeding, and migration, and also the known ranges of small and resident p...

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Published in:Frontiers in Marine Science
Main Authors: Wild, Lauren A., Riley, Heather E., Pearson, Heidi C., Gabriele, Christine M., Neilson, Janet L., Szabo, Andy, Moran, John, Straley, Janice M., DeLand, Sarah
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: Frontiers Media SA 2023
Subjects:
Bia
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1134085
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1134085/full
id crfrontiers:10.3389/fmars.2023.1134085
record_format openpolar
spelling crfrontiers:10.3389/fmars.2023.1134085 2024-02-11T10:02:21+01:00 Biologically Important Areas II for cetaceans within U.S. and adjacent waters – Gulf of Alaska Region Wild, Lauren A. Riley, Heather E. Pearson, Heidi C. Gabriele, Christine M. Neilson, Janet L. Szabo, Andy Moran, John Straley, Janice M. DeLand, Sarah 2023 http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1134085 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1134085/full unknown Frontiers Media SA https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Frontiers in Marine Science volume 10 ISSN 2296-7745 Ocean Engineering Water Science and Technology Aquatic Science Global and Planetary Change Oceanography journal-article 2023 crfrontiers https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1134085 2024-01-26T10:08:11Z We delineated and scored Biologically Important Areas (BIAs) for cetacean species in the Gulf of Alaska region. BIAs represent areas and times in which cetaceans are known to concentrate for activities related to reproduction, feeding, and migration, and also the known ranges of small and resident populations. This National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA)-led effort uses structured expert elicitation principles to build upon the first version of NOAA’s BIAs for cetaceans. Supporting evidence for these BIAs came from aerial-, land-, and vessel-based surveys; satellite-tagging data; passive acoustic monitoring; Indigenous knowledge; photo-identification data; and/or prey studies. A total of 20 BIAs were identified, delineated, and scored for six species: beluga whale ( Delphinapterus leucas ), fin whale ( Balaenoptera physalus ), gray whale ( Eschrichtius robustus ), humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae ), North Pacific right whale ( Eubalaena japonica ), and sperm whale ( Physeter macrocephalus ). Of the 20 total BIAs, there were two small and resident populations, one migratory, and 17 feeding areas; no reproductive BIAs were identified. An additional five watch list areas were identified, a new feature to the second version of BIAs. In addition to more comprehensive narratives and maps, the BIA II products improve upon the first version by creating metadata tables and incorporating a scoring and labeling system which improves quantification and standardization of BIAs within and across regions. BIAs are compilations of the best available science and have no inherent regulatory authority. They have been used by NOAA, other federal agencies, and the public to support planning and marine mammal impact assessments, and to inform the development of conservation measures for cetaceans. Article in Journal/Newspaper Balaenoptera physalus Beluga Beluga whale Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas Eubalaena japonica Fin whale Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae North Pacific right whale Physeter macrocephalus Sperm whale Alaska Frontiers (Publisher) Bia ENVELOPE(22.891,22.891,70.317,70.317) Gulf of Alaska Pacific Frontiers in Marine Science 10
institution Open Polar
collection Frontiers (Publisher)
op_collection_id crfrontiers
language unknown
topic Ocean Engineering
Water Science and Technology
Aquatic Science
Global and Planetary Change
Oceanography
spellingShingle Ocean Engineering
Water Science and Technology
Aquatic Science
Global and Planetary Change
Oceanography
Wild, Lauren A.
Riley, Heather E.
Pearson, Heidi C.
Gabriele, Christine M.
Neilson, Janet L.
Szabo, Andy
Moran, John
Straley, Janice M.
DeLand, Sarah
Biologically Important Areas II for cetaceans within U.S. and adjacent waters – Gulf of Alaska Region
topic_facet Ocean Engineering
Water Science and Technology
Aquatic Science
Global and Planetary Change
Oceanography
description We delineated and scored Biologically Important Areas (BIAs) for cetacean species in the Gulf of Alaska region. BIAs represent areas and times in which cetaceans are known to concentrate for activities related to reproduction, feeding, and migration, and also the known ranges of small and resident populations. This National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA)-led effort uses structured expert elicitation principles to build upon the first version of NOAA’s BIAs for cetaceans. Supporting evidence for these BIAs came from aerial-, land-, and vessel-based surveys; satellite-tagging data; passive acoustic monitoring; Indigenous knowledge; photo-identification data; and/or prey studies. A total of 20 BIAs were identified, delineated, and scored for six species: beluga whale ( Delphinapterus leucas ), fin whale ( Balaenoptera physalus ), gray whale ( Eschrichtius robustus ), humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae ), North Pacific right whale ( Eubalaena japonica ), and sperm whale ( Physeter macrocephalus ). Of the 20 total BIAs, there were two small and resident populations, one migratory, and 17 feeding areas; no reproductive BIAs were identified. An additional five watch list areas were identified, a new feature to the second version of BIAs. In addition to more comprehensive narratives and maps, the BIA II products improve upon the first version by creating metadata tables and incorporating a scoring and labeling system which improves quantification and standardization of BIAs within and across regions. BIAs are compilations of the best available science and have no inherent regulatory authority. They have been used by NOAA, other federal agencies, and the public to support planning and marine mammal impact assessments, and to inform the development of conservation measures for cetaceans.
format Article in Journal/Newspaper
author Wild, Lauren A.
Riley, Heather E.
Pearson, Heidi C.
Gabriele, Christine M.
Neilson, Janet L.
Szabo, Andy
Moran, John
Straley, Janice M.
DeLand, Sarah
author_facet Wild, Lauren A.
Riley, Heather E.
Pearson, Heidi C.
Gabriele, Christine M.
Neilson, Janet L.
Szabo, Andy
Moran, John
Straley, Janice M.
DeLand, Sarah
author_sort Wild, Lauren A.
title Biologically Important Areas II for cetaceans within U.S. and adjacent waters – Gulf of Alaska Region
title_short Biologically Important Areas II for cetaceans within U.S. and adjacent waters – Gulf of Alaska Region
title_full Biologically Important Areas II for cetaceans within U.S. and adjacent waters – Gulf of Alaska Region
title_fullStr Biologically Important Areas II for cetaceans within U.S. and adjacent waters – Gulf of Alaska Region
title_full_unstemmed Biologically Important Areas II for cetaceans within U.S. and adjacent waters – Gulf of Alaska Region
title_sort biologically important areas ii for cetaceans within u.s. and adjacent waters – gulf of alaska region
publisher Frontiers Media SA
publishDate 2023
url http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1134085
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1134085/full
long_lat ENVELOPE(22.891,22.891,70.317,70.317)
geographic Bia
Gulf of Alaska
Pacific
geographic_facet Bia
Gulf of Alaska
Pacific
genre Balaenoptera physalus
Beluga
Beluga whale
Beluga*
Delphinapterus leucas
Eubalaena japonica
Fin whale
Humpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
North Pacific right whale
Physeter macrocephalus
Sperm whale
Alaska
genre_facet Balaenoptera physalus
Beluga
Beluga whale
Beluga*
Delphinapterus leucas
Eubalaena japonica
Fin whale
Humpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
North Pacific right whale
Physeter macrocephalus
Sperm whale
Alaska
op_source Frontiers in Marine Science
volume 10
ISSN 2296-7745
op_rights https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
op_doi https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1134085
container_title Frontiers in Marine Science
container_volume 10
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