Behavioral description on surface and characterization of humpback whales population (Megaptera novaeangliae) during the breeding season 2006 in Colombian Pacific coast

Humpback whales arrive to Colombian Pacific Ocean for breeding and rearing its calves; from 20 m high shore platforms, 115 groups were observed during 44.8 effective sample hours during the 2006 breeding season. Using the group-follow method and incidental sampling were evaluated the group structure...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Rocha-Gómez, Oscar
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/oaiart?codigo=5168110
Description
Summary:Humpback whales arrive to Colombian Pacific Ocean for breeding and rearing its calves; from 20 m high shore platforms, 115 groups were observed during 44.8 effective sample hours during the 2006 breeding season. Using the group-follow method and incidental sampling were evaluated the group structure, displacement patterns and surface behavior frequency (flippering, lobtailing, breaching, arching, surface turns and spy hoping). Results showed that 26.1% of the groups were formed mainly by one adult, following by groups formed by two adults (22.6%), female, its calf and one escort (21.7%), female and its calf (20%), female, its calf and more than one escort (7%), by three adults (1.7%), and by two females, two calves and two escorts (0.9%). Whales swam with an average speed of 7.3 km/h, and there were not significant differences in speed between the groups (H6=4.9, p=0.5). 69.6% of the whales swam north, 27.8% south, and the rest did not show a clear course; the average time diving was about 4.9 min. Surface behaviors were short, it occurred during 2.5% of the registered time, and the group formed by two adults was the most active (H6=19.9, p=0.02). Humpback whales passing by Bahia Solano, in July and August, principally alone and in groups with one calf, course north, with a moderate speed, with diving intervals about 5 minutes; and that the aerial behavior is not frequent. Las ballenas jorobadas llegan al océano Pacífico colombiano para la reproducción y la crianza; desde plataformas marinas de 20 m de altura, se observaron 115 grupos durante 44.8 horas de muestreos efectivos, durante la temporada de cría 2006. Utilizando el método de muestreo de seguimiento grupal- incidental, se evaluó la estructura grupal, los patrones de desplazamiento y la frecuencia de la conduc- ta sobre la superficie marina (aleteos, coletazos, exhalaciones, arqueos, saltos y espionajes). Los resultados mostraron que el 26.1% de los grupos estuvieron formados principalmente por un adulto, seguidos por grupos de dos adultos (22.6%), ...