Right Whale Habitat and Migration in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean

• Main Author: Mate, Bruce R.
• Other Authors: OREGON STATE UNIV CORVALLIS
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2004
• Subjects: Biology; Biological Oceanography; *ENDANGERED SPECIES; *WHALES; MIGRATION; HABITATS; NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN; CETACEA; SATELLITE TRACKING SYSTEMS; RIGHT WHALES; BLUE WHALES; FIN WHALES; SPERM WHALES; HUMPBACK WHALES; RADIO TAGS; Pacific; North Atlantic; Northwest Atlantic
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA426528; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA426528

This study successfully used OSU-developed Argos implantable satellite-monitored radio tags to collect location data on large endangered whale species. These data were used determine feeding and migratory movements, and characterize critical habitats. Whales studied included Hawaiian humpback whales, Eastern North Pacific blue whales, North Atlantic right whales, Sea of Cortez fin whales, and Gulf of Mexico sperm whales. Oregon State University leads the field worldwide in tag longevity and reliability; the longest-running tags to date are on Gulf of Mexico sperm whales and have transmitted for 20 months so far.