The distribution of North Atlantic right whales in Canadian waters from 2015-2017 revealed by passive acoustic monitoring
Northward range shifts are increasingly being identified in mobile animals that are responding to climate change. Range shifts are consequential to animal ecology, ecosystem function, and conservation goals, yet for many species these cannot be characterised without means of synoptically measuring t...
Published in: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.976044 https://doaj.org/article/2222a8d914994e0687cf845bed212d5c |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:2222a8d914994e0687cf845bed212d5c 2023-05-15T16:08:17+02:00 The distribution of North Atlantic right whales in Canadian waters from 2015-2017 revealed by passive acoustic monitoring Delphine Durette-Morin Clair Evers Hansen D. Johnson Katie Kowarski Julien Delarue Hilary Moors-Murphy Emily Maxner Jack W. Lawson Kimberley T. A. Davies 2022-12-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.976044 https://doaj.org/article/2222a8d914994e0687cf845bed212d5c EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.976044/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-7745 2296-7745 doi:10.3389/fmars.2022.976044 https://doaj.org/article/2222a8d914994e0687cf845bed212d5c Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol 9 (2022) North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) distribution range expansion regime shift Science Q General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution QH1-199.5 article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.976044 2022-12-30T22:31:54Z Northward range shifts are increasingly being identified in mobile animals that are responding to climate change. Range shifts are consequential to animal ecology, ecosystem function, and conservation goals, yet for many species these cannot be characterised without means of synoptically measuring their distribution. The distribution of critically endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis; NARW) north of 45°N has been largely unknown due to a lack of systematic monitoring. The objectives of this study were to characterize the spatial and temporal variation in NARW acoustic occurrence in the northern portion of their foraging range. In addition, we sought to identify relevant NARW migratory corridors and explore potential previously unidentified high-use habitats beyond the highly surveyed Gulf of St. Lawrence (GSL). To achieve this, passive acoustic monitoring data were collected and analyzed from 67 moorings and 13 gliders deployed (across 38 recording stations) throughout the Atlantic Canadian continental shelf, between 42°N and 58°N during 2015 through 2017. The results support that while a portion of the population has moved northward into the GSL, this shift was constrained to temperate latitudinal ranges < 52°N during the study period. NARWs were not detected in the Labrador Sea and Newfoundland Shelf, despite their preferred prey occurring in those areas. NARWs were present on the Scotian Shelf (45°N) nearly year-round, but only from May through December in the Cabot Strait (50°N). These results indicate that the northern range of the population is probably influenced by energetic requirements to minimize the distance between suitable foraging habitat and low latitude calving grounds, rather than an absence of suitable foraging conditions in high latitude waters, or other environmental or physiological factors. This work provides critical information to conserve the species and mitigate human-induced risks. Article in Journal/Newspaper Eubalaena glacialis Labrador Sea Newfoundland North Atlantic North Atlantic right whale Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Cabot ENVELOPE(-54.600,-54.600,-63.383,-63.383) Newfoundland Frontiers in Marine Science 9 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) distribution range expansion regime shift Science Q General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution QH1-199.5 |
spellingShingle |
North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) distribution range expansion regime shift Science Q General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution QH1-199.5 Delphine Durette-Morin Clair Evers Hansen D. Johnson Katie Kowarski Julien Delarue Hilary Moors-Murphy Emily Maxner Jack W. Lawson Kimberley T. A. Davies The distribution of North Atlantic right whales in Canadian waters from 2015-2017 revealed by passive acoustic monitoring |
topic_facet |
North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) distribution range expansion regime shift Science Q General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution QH1-199.5 |
description |
Northward range shifts are increasingly being identified in mobile animals that are responding to climate change. Range shifts are consequential to animal ecology, ecosystem function, and conservation goals, yet for many species these cannot be characterised without means of synoptically measuring their distribution. The distribution of critically endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis; NARW) north of 45°N has been largely unknown due to a lack of systematic monitoring. The objectives of this study were to characterize the spatial and temporal variation in NARW acoustic occurrence in the northern portion of their foraging range. In addition, we sought to identify relevant NARW migratory corridors and explore potential previously unidentified high-use habitats beyond the highly surveyed Gulf of St. Lawrence (GSL). To achieve this, passive acoustic monitoring data were collected and analyzed from 67 moorings and 13 gliders deployed (across 38 recording stations) throughout the Atlantic Canadian continental shelf, between 42°N and 58°N during 2015 through 2017. The results support that while a portion of the population has moved northward into the GSL, this shift was constrained to temperate latitudinal ranges < 52°N during the study period. NARWs were not detected in the Labrador Sea and Newfoundland Shelf, despite their preferred prey occurring in those areas. NARWs were present on the Scotian Shelf (45°N) nearly year-round, but only from May through December in the Cabot Strait (50°N). These results indicate that the northern range of the population is probably influenced by energetic requirements to minimize the distance between suitable foraging habitat and low latitude calving grounds, rather than an absence of suitable foraging conditions in high latitude waters, or other environmental or physiological factors. This work provides critical information to conserve the species and mitigate human-induced risks. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Delphine Durette-Morin Clair Evers Hansen D. Johnson Katie Kowarski Julien Delarue Hilary Moors-Murphy Emily Maxner Jack W. Lawson Kimberley T. A. Davies |
author_facet |
Delphine Durette-Morin Clair Evers Hansen D. Johnson Katie Kowarski Julien Delarue Hilary Moors-Murphy Emily Maxner Jack W. Lawson Kimberley T. A. Davies |
author_sort |
Delphine Durette-Morin |
title |
The distribution of North Atlantic right whales in Canadian waters from 2015-2017 revealed by passive acoustic monitoring |
title_short |
The distribution of North Atlantic right whales in Canadian waters from 2015-2017 revealed by passive acoustic monitoring |
title_full |
The distribution of North Atlantic right whales in Canadian waters from 2015-2017 revealed by passive acoustic monitoring |
title_fullStr |
The distribution of North Atlantic right whales in Canadian waters from 2015-2017 revealed by passive acoustic monitoring |
title_full_unstemmed |
The distribution of North Atlantic right whales in Canadian waters from 2015-2017 revealed by passive acoustic monitoring |
title_sort |
distribution of north atlantic right whales in canadian waters from 2015-2017 revealed by passive acoustic monitoring |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.976044 https://doaj.org/article/2222a8d914994e0687cf845bed212d5c |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-54.600,-54.600,-63.383,-63.383) |
geographic |
Cabot Newfoundland |
geographic_facet |
Cabot Newfoundland |
genre |
Eubalaena glacialis Labrador Sea Newfoundland North Atlantic North Atlantic right whale |
genre_facet |
Eubalaena glacialis Labrador Sea Newfoundland North Atlantic North Atlantic right whale |
op_source |
Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol 9 (2022) |
op_relation |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.976044/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-7745 2296-7745 doi:10.3389/fmars.2022.976044 https://doaj.org/article/2222a8d914994e0687cf845bed212d5c |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.976044 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Marine Science |
container_volume |
9 |
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1766404338767364096 |