Modeling the foraging habitat of humpback whales ...

• Main Author: Dalla Rosa, Luciano
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2010
• Subjects: Canada; British Columbia; Gerlache; Antarc*; Antarctica; Megaptera novaeangliae
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0069519; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0069519

Knowing how species will respond to environmental variability and climate change requires understanding the factors that influence their distribution and movement patterns. I investigated the processes that drive individuals to concentrate in specific areas of their home range by modeling encounter rates of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in relation to environmental variables using GIS tools, generalized additive models, and remote sensing and in situ data. I conducted this work at two foraging areas: the coastal waters of British Columbia, Canada, and the Bransfield and Gerlache Straits, Antarctica. Humpback whales in British Columbia were strongly associated with latitude and bathymetric features. The relationships with remotely sensed variables reflecting primary productivity were not consistent, but higher numbers of whales seemed to be associated with higher productivity. In fact, the highest concentrations of humpback whales appeared to reflect areas where concentration and retention ...