Blue Whale Study aerial surveys, southern Australia 2002-2007 ...
Original provider: Blue Whale Study Inc. Dataset credits: Blue Whale Study Inc. Abstract: Blue whales Balaenoptera musculus aggregate to feed in a regional upwelling system during November–May between the Great Australian Bight (GAB) and Bass Strait. We analyzed sightings from aerial surveys over 6...
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| Format: | Dataset |
| Language: | English |
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OBIS-SEAMAP
2021
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| Online Access: | https://dx.doi.org/10.15468/rfz6xk https://www.gbif.org/dataset/e38a459a-06c4-4056-8f2c-4f0d2fc38605 |
| Summary: | Original provider: Blue Whale Study Inc. Dataset credits: Blue Whale Study Inc. Abstract: Blue whales Balaenoptera musculus aggregate to feed in a regional upwelling system during November–May between the Great Australian Bight (GAB) and Bass Strait. We analyzed sightings from aerial surveys over 6 upwelling seasons (2001–02 to 2006–07) to assess within-season patterns of blue whale habitat selection, distribution, and relative abundance. Habitat variables were modelled using a general linear model (GLM) that ranked sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface chlorophyll (SSC) of equal importance, followed by depth, distance to shore, SSC gradient, distance to shelf break, and SST gradient. Further discrimination by hierarchical partitioning indicated that SST accounted for 84.4% of variation in blue whale presence explained by the model, and that probability of sightings increased with increasing SST. The large study area was resolved into 3 zones showing diversity of habitat from the shallow narrow shelf ... |
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