Satellite tracking reveals novel migratory patterns and the importance of seamounts for endangered South Pacific humpback whales
The humpback whale population of New Caledonia appears to display a novel migratory pattern characterized by multiple directions, long migratory paths and frequent pauses over seamounts and other shallow geographical features. Using satellite-monitored radio tags, we tracked 34 whales for between 5...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:b261b0559c3c429f988c657ddbcd947a 2023-05-15T16:36:03+02:00 Satellite tracking reveals novel migratory patterns and the importance of seamounts for endangered South Pacific humpback whales Claire Garrigue Phillip J. Clapham Ygor Geyer Amy S. Kennedy Alexandre N. Zerbini 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.150489 https://doaj.org/article/b261b0559c3c429f988c657ddbcd947a EN eng The Royal Society https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.150489 https://doaj.org/toc/2054-5703 2054-5703 doi:10.1098/rsos.150489 https://doaj.org/article/b261b0559c3c429f988c657ddbcd947a Royal Society Open Science, Vol 2, Iss 11 (2015) whale distribution cryptic habitat satellite tracking oceania breeding ground Science Q article 2015 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.150489 2022-12-31T15:45:46Z The humpback whale population of New Caledonia appears to display a novel migratory pattern characterized by multiple directions, long migratory paths and frequent pauses over seamounts and other shallow geographical features. Using satellite-monitored radio tags, we tracked 34 whales for between 5 and 110 days, travelling between 270 and 8540 km on their southward migration from a breeding ground in southern New Caledonia. Mean migration speed was 3.53±2.22 km h−1, while movements within the breeding ground averaged 2.01±1.63 km h−1. The tag data demonstrate that seamounts play an important role as offshore habitats for this species. Whales displayed an intensive use of oceanic seamounts both in the breeding season and on migration. Seamounts probably serve multiple and important roles as breeding locations, resting areas, navigational landmarks or even supplemental feeding grounds for this species, which can be viewed as a transient component of the seamount communities. Satellite telemetry suggests that seamounts represent an overlooked cryptic habitat for the species. The frequent use by humpback whales of such remote locations has important implications for conservation and management. Article in Journal/Newspaper Humpback Whale Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Pacific Royal Society Open Science 2 11 150489 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
whale distribution cryptic habitat satellite tracking oceania breeding ground Science Q |
spellingShingle |
whale distribution cryptic habitat satellite tracking oceania breeding ground Science Q Claire Garrigue Phillip J. Clapham Ygor Geyer Amy S. Kennedy Alexandre N. Zerbini Satellite tracking reveals novel migratory patterns and the importance of seamounts for endangered South Pacific humpback whales |
topic_facet |
whale distribution cryptic habitat satellite tracking oceania breeding ground Science Q |
description |
The humpback whale population of New Caledonia appears to display a novel migratory pattern characterized by multiple directions, long migratory paths and frequent pauses over seamounts and other shallow geographical features. Using satellite-monitored radio tags, we tracked 34 whales for between 5 and 110 days, travelling between 270 and 8540 km on their southward migration from a breeding ground in southern New Caledonia. Mean migration speed was 3.53±2.22 km h−1, while movements within the breeding ground averaged 2.01±1.63 km h−1. The tag data demonstrate that seamounts play an important role as offshore habitats for this species. Whales displayed an intensive use of oceanic seamounts both in the breeding season and on migration. Seamounts probably serve multiple and important roles as breeding locations, resting areas, navigational landmarks or even supplemental feeding grounds for this species, which can be viewed as a transient component of the seamount communities. Satellite telemetry suggests that seamounts represent an overlooked cryptic habitat for the species. The frequent use by humpback whales of such remote locations has important implications for conservation and management. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Claire Garrigue Phillip J. Clapham Ygor Geyer Amy S. Kennedy Alexandre N. Zerbini |
author_facet |
Claire Garrigue Phillip J. Clapham Ygor Geyer Amy S. Kennedy Alexandre N. Zerbini |
author_sort |
Claire Garrigue |
title |
Satellite tracking reveals novel migratory patterns and the importance of seamounts for endangered South Pacific humpback whales |
title_short |
Satellite tracking reveals novel migratory patterns and the importance of seamounts for endangered South Pacific humpback whales |
title_full |
Satellite tracking reveals novel migratory patterns and the importance of seamounts for endangered South Pacific humpback whales |
title_fullStr |
Satellite tracking reveals novel migratory patterns and the importance of seamounts for endangered South Pacific humpback whales |
title_full_unstemmed |
Satellite tracking reveals novel migratory patterns and the importance of seamounts for endangered South Pacific humpback whales |
title_sort |
satellite tracking reveals novel migratory patterns and the importance of seamounts for endangered south pacific humpback whales |
publisher |
The Royal Society |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.150489 https://doaj.org/article/b261b0559c3c429f988c657ddbcd947a |
geographic |
Pacific |
geographic_facet |
Pacific |
genre |
Humpback Whale |
genre_facet |
Humpback Whale |
op_source |
Royal Society Open Science, Vol 2, Iss 11 (2015) |
op_relation |
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.150489 https://doaj.org/toc/2054-5703 2054-5703 doi:10.1098/rsos.150489 https://doaj.org/article/b261b0559c3c429f988c657ddbcd947a |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.150489 |
container_title |
Royal Society Open Science |
container_volume |
2 |
container_issue |
11 |
container_start_page |
150489 |
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