Observations of shifts in cetacean distribution in the Norwegian Sea
This study aimed to assess possible shifts in distributional patterns of cetaceans residing in the Norwegian Sea, and if possible relate the distribution to their feeding ecology during the summer seasons of 2009, 2010 and 2012. During this same period, historically large abundances in the order of...
Published in: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2014.00083 https://doaj.org/article/4e279272879a4e9ebf0c74d79fff032a |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:4e279272879a4e9ebf0c74d79fff032a 2023-05-15T15:36:09+02:00 Observations of shifts in cetacean distribution in the Norwegian Sea Leif eNøttestad Bjørn eKrafft Valantine eAnthonypillai Matteo eBernasconi Lise eLangård Anders eFernö 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2014.00083 https://doaj.org/article/4e279272879a4e9ebf0c74d79fff032a EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fevo.2014.00083/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-701X 2296-701X doi:10.3389/fevo.2014.00083 https://doaj.org/article/4e279272879a4e9ebf0c74d79fff032a Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Vol 2 (2015) Climate Change Dolphins Whales feeding spatial distribution Shift Evolution QH359-425 Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2015 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2014.00083 2022-12-31T01:11:10Z This study aimed to assess possible shifts in distributional patterns of cetaceans residing in the Norwegian Sea, and if possible relate the distribution to their feeding ecology during the summer seasons of 2009, 2010 and 2012. During this same period, historically large abundances in the order of 15 million tonnes pelagic planktivorous fish such as Norwegian spring-spawning herring (Clupea harengus), northeast Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) and blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou), have been reported feeding in the Norwegian Sea during the summer. There is also observed elevated average surface temperatures and a reduction in zooplankton biomasses. Such changes might influence species composition, distribution patterns and feeding preferences of cetaceans residing the region. Our results show higher densities of toothed whales, killer whales (Orcinus orca) and pilot whales (Globicephala melas), than the previous norm for these waters. Baleen whales, such as minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), which is often associated with zooplankton, displayed a distribution overlap with pelagic fish abundances. Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) were observed in low numbers, indicating shift in habitat preference, compared to sighting data collected only few years earlier. Our study illustrate that both small and large cetaceans that reside in the Norwegian Sea have the capability to rapidly perform shifts in distribution and abundance patterns dependent of the access to different types and behaviour of prey species. Article in Journal/Newspaper Balaenoptera acutorostrata Balaenoptera physalus baleen whales Megaptera novaeangliae Northeast Atlantic Norwegian Sea Orca Orcinus orca toothed whales Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Norwegian Sea Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 2 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Climate Change Dolphins Whales feeding spatial distribution Shift Evolution QH359-425 Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
Climate Change Dolphins Whales feeding spatial distribution Shift Evolution QH359-425 Ecology QH540-549.5 Leif eNøttestad Bjørn eKrafft Valantine eAnthonypillai Matteo eBernasconi Lise eLangård Anders eFernö Observations of shifts in cetacean distribution in the Norwegian Sea |
topic_facet |
Climate Change Dolphins Whales feeding spatial distribution Shift Evolution QH359-425 Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
This study aimed to assess possible shifts in distributional patterns of cetaceans residing in the Norwegian Sea, and if possible relate the distribution to their feeding ecology during the summer seasons of 2009, 2010 and 2012. During this same period, historically large abundances in the order of 15 million tonnes pelagic planktivorous fish such as Norwegian spring-spawning herring (Clupea harengus), northeast Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) and blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou), have been reported feeding in the Norwegian Sea during the summer. There is also observed elevated average surface temperatures and a reduction in zooplankton biomasses. Such changes might influence species composition, distribution patterns and feeding preferences of cetaceans residing the region. Our results show higher densities of toothed whales, killer whales (Orcinus orca) and pilot whales (Globicephala melas), than the previous norm for these waters. Baleen whales, such as minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), which is often associated with zooplankton, displayed a distribution overlap with pelagic fish abundances. Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) were observed in low numbers, indicating shift in habitat preference, compared to sighting data collected only few years earlier. Our study illustrate that both small and large cetaceans that reside in the Norwegian Sea have the capability to rapidly perform shifts in distribution and abundance patterns dependent of the access to different types and behaviour of prey species. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Leif eNøttestad Bjørn eKrafft Valantine eAnthonypillai Matteo eBernasconi Lise eLangård Anders eFernö |
author_facet |
Leif eNøttestad Bjørn eKrafft Valantine eAnthonypillai Matteo eBernasconi Lise eLangård Anders eFernö |
author_sort |
Leif eNøttestad |
title |
Observations of shifts in cetacean distribution in the Norwegian Sea |
title_short |
Observations of shifts in cetacean distribution in the Norwegian Sea |
title_full |
Observations of shifts in cetacean distribution in the Norwegian Sea |
title_fullStr |
Observations of shifts in cetacean distribution in the Norwegian Sea |
title_full_unstemmed |
Observations of shifts in cetacean distribution in the Norwegian Sea |
title_sort |
observations of shifts in cetacean distribution in the norwegian sea |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2014.00083 https://doaj.org/article/4e279272879a4e9ebf0c74d79fff032a |
geographic |
Norwegian Sea |
geographic_facet |
Norwegian Sea |
genre |
Balaenoptera acutorostrata Balaenoptera physalus baleen whales Megaptera novaeangliae Northeast Atlantic Norwegian Sea Orca Orcinus orca toothed whales |
genre_facet |
Balaenoptera acutorostrata Balaenoptera physalus baleen whales Megaptera novaeangliae Northeast Atlantic Norwegian Sea Orca Orcinus orca toothed whales |
op_source |
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Vol 2 (2015) |
op_relation |
http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fevo.2014.00083/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-701X 2296-701X doi:10.3389/fevo.2014.00083 https://doaj.org/article/4e279272879a4e9ebf0c74d79fff032a |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2014.00083 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
container_volume |
2 |
_version_ |
1766366490150305792 |