Wintering habitat model for the North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) in the southeastern United States.
The coastal waters off the southeastern United States (SEUS) are a primary wintering ground for the endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), used by calving females along with other adult and juvenile whales. Management actions implemented in this area for the recovery of the rig...
Published in: | PLoS ONE |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2014
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0095126 https://doaj.org/article/a2df1eed8cea43e1abd2370b8687e7e1 |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:a2df1eed8cea43e1abd2370b8687e7e1 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:a2df1eed8cea43e1abd2370b8687e7e1 2023-05-15T16:08:17+02:00 Wintering habitat model for the North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) in the southeastern United States. Timothy A Gowan Joel G Ortega-Ortiz 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0095126 https://doaj.org/article/a2df1eed8cea43e1abd2370b8687e7e1 EN eng Public Library of Science (PLoS) http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3989274?pdf=render https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203 1932-6203 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0095126 https://doaj.org/article/a2df1eed8cea43e1abd2370b8687e7e1 PLoS ONE, Vol 9, Iss 4, p e95126 (2014) Medicine R Science Q article 2014 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0095126 2022-12-31T10:26:46Z The coastal waters off the southeastern United States (SEUS) are a primary wintering ground for the endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), used by calving females along with other adult and juvenile whales. Management actions implemented in this area for the recovery of the right whale population rely on accurate habitat characterization and the ability to predict whale distribution over time. We developed a temporally dynamic habitat model to predict wintering right whale distribution in the SEUS using a generalized additive model framework and aerial survey data from 2003/2004 through 2012/2013. We built upon previous habitat models for right whales in the SEUS and include data from new aerial surveys that extend the spatial coverage of the analysis, particularly in the northern portion of this wintering ground. We summarized whale sightings, survey effort corrected for probability of whale detection, and environmental data at a semimonthly resolution. Consistent with previous studies, sea surface temperature (SST), water depth, and survey year were significant predictors of right whale relative abundance. Additionally, distance to shore, distance to the 22°C SST isotherm, and an interaction between time of year and latitude (to account for the latitudinal migration of whales) were also selected in the analysis presented here. Predictions from the model revealed that the location of preferred habitat differs within and between years in correspondence with variation in environmental conditions. Although cow-calf pairs were rarely sighted in the company of other whales, there was minimal evidence that the preferred habitat of cow-calf pairs was different than that of whale groups without calves at the scale of this study. The results of this updated habitat model can be used to inform management decisions for a migratory species in a dynamic oceanic environment. Article in Journal/Newspaper Eubalaena glacialis North Atlantic North Atlantic right whale Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles PLoS ONE 9 4 e95126 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Medicine R Science Q |
spellingShingle |
Medicine R Science Q Timothy A Gowan Joel G Ortega-Ortiz Wintering habitat model for the North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) in the southeastern United States. |
topic_facet |
Medicine R Science Q |
description |
The coastal waters off the southeastern United States (SEUS) are a primary wintering ground for the endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), used by calving females along with other adult and juvenile whales. Management actions implemented in this area for the recovery of the right whale population rely on accurate habitat characterization and the ability to predict whale distribution over time. We developed a temporally dynamic habitat model to predict wintering right whale distribution in the SEUS using a generalized additive model framework and aerial survey data from 2003/2004 through 2012/2013. We built upon previous habitat models for right whales in the SEUS and include data from new aerial surveys that extend the spatial coverage of the analysis, particularly in the northern portion of this wintering ground. We summarized whale sightings, survey effort corrected for probability of whale detection, and environmental data at a semimonthly resolution. Consistent with previous studies, sea surface temperature (SST), water depth, and survey year were significant predictors of right whale relative abundance. Additionally, distance to shore, distance to the 22°C SST isotherm, and an interaction between time of year and latitude (to account for the latitudinal migration of whales) were also selected in the analysis presented here. Predictions from the model revealed that the location of preferred habitat differs within and between years in correspondence with variation in environmental conditions. Although cow-calf pairs were rarely sighted in the company of other whales, there was minimal evidence that the preferred habitat of cow-calf pairs was different than that of whale groups without calves at the scale of this study. The results of this updated habitat model can be used to inform management decisions for a migratory species in a dynamic oceanic environment. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Timothy A Gowan Joel G Ortega-Ortiz |
author_facet |
Timothy A Gowan Joel G Ortega-Ortiz |
author_sort |
Timothy A Gowan |
title |
Wintering habitat model for the North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) in the southeastern United States. |
title_short |
Wintering habitat model for the North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) in the southeastern United States. |
title_full |
Wintering habitat model for the North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) in the southeastern United States. |
title_fullStr |
Wintering habitat model for the North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) in the southeastern United States. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Wintering habitat model for the North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) in the southeastern United States. |
title_sort |
wintering habitat model for the north atlantic right whale (eubalaena glacialis) in the southeastern united states. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
publishDate |
2014 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0095126 https://doaj.org/article/a2df1eed8cea43e1abd2370b8687e7e1 |
genre |
Eubalaena glacialis North Atlantic North Atlantic right whale |
genre_facet |
Eubalaena glacialis North Atlantic North Atlantic right whale |
op_source |
PLoS ONE, Vol 9, Iss 4, p e95126 (2014) |
op_relation |
http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3989274?pdf=render https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203 1932-6203 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0095126 https://doaj.org/article/a2df1eed8cea43e1abd2370b8687e7e1 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0095126 |
container_title |
PLoS ONE |
container_volume |
9 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
e95126 |
_version_ |
1766404341980200960 |