Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) Behavior and Group Dynamics as Observed from an Aircraft off Southern California
Group behavior and interactions of endangered blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) have not been systematically studied. Such behavioral data are often overlooked when assessing anthropogenic effects. Yet behavioral data are necessary to compare “normal” behaviors with behavior affected by anthropoge...
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Animal Behavior and Cognition
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:7ac41180539740f49c81aa825854132a 2023-05-15T15:36:19+02:00 Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) Behavior and Group Dynamics as Observed from an Aircraft off Southern California Kate Lomac-MacNair Mari Ann Smultea 2016-02-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.12966/abc.02.01.2016 https://doaj.org/article/7ac41180539740f49c81aa825854132a EN eng Animal Behavior and Cognition http://www.animalbehaviorandcognition.org/uploads/journals/9/01.Feb2016-Lomac&Smultea-final.443.del.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/2372-5052 https://doaj.org/toc/2372-4323 doi:10.12966/abc.02.01.2016 2372-5052 2372-4323 https://doaj.org/article/7ac41180539740f49c81aa825854132a Animal Behavior and Cognition, Vol 3, Iss 1, Pp 1-21 (2016) Blue whales Balaenoptera musculus Behavioral state Distribution Group size Spatio-temporal factors Zoology QL1-991 article 2016 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.12966/abc.02.01.2016 2022-12-31T13:32:37Z Group behavior and interactions of endangered blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) have not been systematically studied. Such behavioral data are often overlooked when assessing anthropogenic effects. Yet behavioral data are necessary to compare “normal” behaviors with behavior affected by anthropogenic factors of concern relative to effective management and recovery of blue whales. For a baseline study, we hypothesized that the response variables sighting rate, group size, calf presence and group cohesion (i.e., spacing between individuals within a group) differed according to the spatio-temporal explanatory variables behavioral state, time of day, season, water depth and distance from shore. To address our hypotheses, we flew systematic line transect surveys in southern California and collected focal group data. Two sets of data were separately analyzed using different sampling approaches: (1) point sample data associated with the first sighting of a blue whale(s), and (2) extended all-occurrence focal group behavioral sampling data (i.e., focal follows) collected on a subsample of all sightings while the aircraft circled at a radial distance of approximately 0.5-1 km and an altitude of 1,500 m for extended periods of 5 – 60 minutes. Chi-square contingency table and G² analyses were used to assess statistical relationships between response and explanatory variables. We conducted 18 one-week-long aerial surveys spanning October 2008 through May 2013 (at least once during every month except December), totaling 87,555 km of observation effort. Seventy blue whale sightings (117 individuals) were seen, ranging in size from 1 – 6 whales, and focal follow was performed on over half (55%) of these sightings. Results supported our hypotheses that blue whale group characteristics were related to behavioral state and spatio-temporal variables. Sighting rates were significantly highest during summer followed by spring, fall, and winter. Group type differed significantly by season: groups (at least three individuals) were ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Balaenoptera musculus Blue whale Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Animal Behavior and Cognition 3 1 1 21 |
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Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Blue whales Balaenoptera musculus Behavioral state Distribution Group size Spatio-temporal factors Zoology QL1-991 |
spellingShingle |
Blue whales Balaenoptera musculus Behavioral state Distribution Group size Spatio-temporal factors Zoology QL1-991 Kate Lomac-MacNair Mari Ann Smultea Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) Behavior and Group Dynamics as Observed from an Aircraft off Southern California |
topic_facet |
Blue whales Balaenoptera musculus Behavioral state Distribution Group size Spatio-temporal factors Zoology QL1-991 |
description |
Group behavior and interactions of endangered blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) have not been systematically studied. Such behavioral data are often overlooked when assessing anthropogenic effects. Yet behavioral data are necessary to compare “normal” behaviors with behavior affected by anthropogenic factors of concern relative to effective management and recovery of blue whales. For a baseline study, we hypothesized that the response variables sighting rate, group size, calf presence and group cohesion (i.e., spacing between individuals within a group) differed according to the spatio-temporal explanatory variables behavioral state, time of day, season, water depth and distance from shore. To address our hypotheses, we flew systematic line transect surveys in southern California and collected focal group data. Two sets of data were separately analyzed using different sampling approaches: (1) point sample data associated with the first sighting of a blue whale(s), and (2) extended all-occurrence focal group behavioral sampling data (i.e., focal follows) collected on a subsample of all sightings while the aircraft circled at a radial distance of approximately 0.5-1 km and an altitude of 1,500 m for extended periods of 5 – 60 minutes. Chi-square contingency table and G² analyses were used to assess statistical relationships between response and explanatory variables. We conducted 18 one-week-long aerial surveys spanning October 2008 through May 2013 (at least once during every month except December), totaling 87,555 km of observation effort. Seventy blue whale sightings (117 individuals) were seen, ranging in size from 1 – 6 whales, and focal follow was performed on over half (55%) of these sightings. Results supported our hypotheses that blue whale group characteristics were related to behavioral state and spatio-temporal variables. Sighting rates were significantly highest during summer followed by spring, fall, and winter. Group type differed significantly by season: groups (at least three individuals) were ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Kate Lomac-MacNair Mari Ann Smultea |
author_facet |
Kate Lomac-MacNair Mari Ann Smultea |
author_sort |
Kate Lomac-MacNair |
title |
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) Behavior and Group Dynamics as Observed from an Aircraft off Southern California |
title_short |
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) Behavior and Group Dynamics as Observed from an Aircraft off Southern California |
title_full |
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) Behavior and Group Dynamics as Observed from an Aircraft off Southern California |
title_fullStr |
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) Behavior and Group Dynamics as Observed from an Aircraft off Southern California |
title_full_unstemmed |
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) Behavior and Group Dynamics as Observed from an Aircraft off Southern California |
title_sort |
blue whale (balaenoptera musculus) behavior and group dynamics as observed from an aircraft off southern california |
publisher |
Animal Behavior and Cognition |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.12966/abc.02.01.2016 https://doaj.org/article/7ac41180539740f49c81aa825854132a |
genre |
Balaenoptera musculus Blue whale |
genre_facet |
Balaenoptera musculus Blue whale |
op_source |
Animal Behavior and Cognition, Vol 3, Iss 1, Pp 1-21 (2016) |
op_relation |
http://www.animalbehaviorandcognition.org/uploads/journals/9/01.Feb2016-Lomac&Smultea-final.443.del.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/2372-5052 https://doaj.org/toc/2372-4323 doi:10.12966/abc.02.01.2016 2372-5052 2372-4323 https://doaj.org/article/7ac41180539740f49c81aa825854132a |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.12966/abc.02.01.2016 |
container_title |
Animal Behavior and Cognition |
container_volume |
3 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
1 |
op_container_end_page |
21 |
_version_ |
1766366667935318016 |