Assessing seasonal spatial segregation by age class of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Western Hudson Bay estuaries
Segregation of adult males from adult females and immature animals is known to occur in some beluga whale populations, but it is unclear if such segregation occurs in Hudson Bay, where the largest summering population in the world is found. Using imagery from a photographic aerial survey conducted i...
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crplos:10.1371/journal.pone.0255756 2024-05-19T07:38:15+00:00 Assessing seasonal spatial segregation by age class of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Western Hudson Bay estuaries Westdal, Kristin H. Davies, Jeremy Ferguson, Steven H. Fujiwara, Masami Fisheries and Oceans Canada Polar Continental Shelf Program Nunavut Wildlife Management Board Oceans North Canada 2022 http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255756 https://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255756 en eng Public Library of Science (PLoS) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ PLOS ONE volume 17, issue 11, page e0255756 ISSN 1932-6203 journal-article 2022 crplos https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255756 2024-05-01T06:55:02Z Segregation of adult males from adult females and immature animals is known to occur in some beluga whale populations, but it is unclear if such segregation occurs in Hudson Bay, where the largest summering population in the world is found. Using imagery from a photographic aerial survey conducted in August 2015, we examined spatial distribution by age class with respect to several environmental variables near two of three main estuaries, Churchill and Seal River, used by Western Hudson Bay belugas in the summer season. Belugas photographed during aerial surveys were classified by age manually using an identification decision tree, and GPS coordinates of their locations were plotted in ArcGIS. Distribution by age class was examined in relation to five habitat characteristics: distance to coastal habitat, bathymetry, sea surface temperature, and extent of river plume. Habitat characteristics and the proportion of animals by age classes were similar in both estuaries, indicating no segregation, and suggesting the environmental data assessed were not associated with patterns of distribution and density of age classes at the spatial and temporal scale being investigated. Overall density of calves was almost three times higher at the Seal River; however, suggesting this location may be preferred for calf rearing in the summer season. Results provide a greater understanding of spatial patterns of beluga whale habitat use in western Hudson Bay, and information useful in conservation and management advice. Article in Journal/Newspaper Beluga Beluga whale Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas Hudson Bay PLOS PLOS ONE 17 11 e0255756 |
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English |
description |
Segregation of adult males from adult females and immature animals is known to occur in some beluga whale populations, but it is unclear if such segregation occurs in Hudson Bay, where the largest summering population in the world is found. Using imagery from a photographic aerial survey conducted in August 2015, we examined spatial distribution by age class with respect to several environmental variables near two of three main estuaries, Churchill and Seal River, used by Western Hudson Bay belugas in the summer season. Belugas photographed during aerial surveys were classified by age manually using an identification decision tree, and GPS coordinates of their locations were plotted in ArcGIS. Distribution by age class was examined in relation to five habitat characteristics: distance to coastal habitat, bathymetry, sea surface temperature, and extent of river plume. Habitat characteristics and the proportion of animals by age classes were similar in both estuaries, indicating no segregation, and suggesting the environmental data assessed were not associated with patterns of distribution and density of age classes at the spatial and temporal scale being investigated. Overall density of calves was almost three times higher at the Seal River; however, suggesting this location may be preferred for calf rearing in the summer season. Results provide a greater understanding of spatial patterns of beluga whale habitat use in western Hudson Bay, and information useful in conservation and management advice. |
author2 |
Fujiwara, Masami Fisheries and Oceans Canada Polar Continental Shelf Program Nunavut Wildlife Management Board Oceans North Canada |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Westdal, Kristin H. Davies, Jeremy Ferguson, Steven H. |
spellingShingle |
Westdal, Kristin H. Davies, Jeremy Ferguson, Steven H. Assessing seasonal spatial segregation by age class of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Western Hudson Bay estuaries |
author_facet |
Westdal, Kristin H. Davies, Jeremy Ferguson, Steven H. |
author_sort |
Westdal, Kristin H. |
title |
Assessing seasonal spatial segregation by age class of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Western Hudson Bay estuaries |
title_short |
Assessing seasonal spatial segregation by age class of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Western Hudson Bay estuaries |
title_full |
Assessing seasonal spatial segregation by age class of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Western Hudson Bay estuaries |
title_fullStr |
Assessing seasonal spatial segregation by age class of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Western Hudson Bay estuaries |
title_full_unstemmed |
Assessing seasonal spatial segregation by age class of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Western Hudson Bay estuaries |
title_sort |
assessing seasonal spatial segregation by age class of beluga whales (delphinapterus leucas) in western hudson bay estuaries |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255756 https://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255756 |
genre |
Beluga Beluga whale Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas Hudson Bay |
genre_facet |
Beluga Beluga whale Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas Hudson Bay |
op_source |
PLOS ONE volume 17, issue 11, page e0255756 ISSN 1932-6203 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255756 |
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PLOS ONE |
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17 |
container_issue |
11 |
container_start_page |
e0255756 |
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1799477667131555840 |