Filtered Argos location data for pygmy blue whales 2009 and 2011

• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: Australian Ocean Data Network
• Subjects: biota; oceans; EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > MAMMALS > CETACEANS > BALEEN WHALES; CLIMATE INDICATORS > BIOSPHERIC INDICATORS > SPECIES MIGRATION; PYGMY BLUE WHALE; BALAENOPTERA MUSCULUS BREVICAUDA; SATELLITE TELEMETRY; ANIMAL MOVEMENT; SATELLITE TAG; ARGOS > ARGOS Data Collection and Position Location System; SATELLITES; AMD/AU; AMD; CEOS; GEOGRAPHIC REGION > POLAR; CONTINENT > AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND > AUSTRALIA; OCEAN > INDIAN OCEAN > INDONESIA; INDIAN OCEAN; Austral; Indian; New Zealand; West Cape; Balaenoptera musculus; baleen whales; Blue whale
• Online Access: https://researchdata.edu.au/filtered-argos-location-2009-2011/2819238

Progress Code: completed Purpose This dataset was used to describe the migratory movements of pygmy blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) between Australia and Indonesia. The abstract from the resulting manuscript follows: In Australian waters during the austral summer, pygmy blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) occur predictably in two distinct feeding areas off western and southern Australia. As with other blue whale subspecies, outside the austral summer their distribution and movements are poorly understood. In order to describe the migratory movements of these whales, we present the satellite telemetry derived movements of eleven individuals tagged off western Australia over two years. Whales were tracked from between 8 and 308 days covering an average distance of 3,0096892 km (mean 6 se; range: 832 km–14,101 km) at a rate of 21.9460.74 km per day (0.09 km–455.80 km/day). Whales were tagged during March and April and ultimately migrated northwards post tag deployment with the exception of a single animal which remained in the vicinity of the Perth Canyon/Naturaliste Plateau for its eight day tracking period. The tagged whales travelled relatively near to the Australian coastline (100.061.7 km) until reaching a prominent peninsula in the north-west of the state of Western Australia (North West Cape) after which they travelled offshore (238.0613.9 km). Whales reached the northern terminus of their migration and potential breeding grounds in Indonesian waters by June. One satellite tag relayed intermittent information to describe aspects of the southern migration from Indonesia with the animal departing around September to arrive in the subtropical frontal zone, south of western Australia in December. Throughout their migratory range, these whales are exposed to impacts associated with industry, fishing and vessel traffic. These movements therefore provide a valuable tool to industry when assessing potential interactions with pygmy blue whales and should be considered by conservation ...