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...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Text |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2015
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010065962 |
id |
ftird:oai:ird.fr:fdi:010065962 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftird:oai:ird.fr:fdi:010065962 2024-09-15T18:11:14+00:00 Satellite tracking reveals novel migratory patterns and the importance of seamounts for endangered South Pacific humpback whales /Garrigue, Claire Clapham, P.J. Geyer, Y. Kennedy, A.S. Zerbini, A.N. NOUVELLE CALEDONIE OCEANIE PACIFIQUE 2015 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010065962 EN eng https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010065962 oai:ird.fr:fdi:010065962 Garrigue Claire, Clapham P.J., Geyer Y., Kennedy A.S., Zerbini A.N. Satellite tracking reveals novel migratory patterns and the importance of seamounts for endangered South Pacific humpback whales. 2015, 2, art. 150489 text 2015 ftird 2024-08-15T05:57:41Z 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. Text Humpback Whale IRD (Institute de recherche pour le développement): Horizon |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
IRD (Institute de recherche pour le développement): Horizon |
op_collection_id |
ftird |
language |
English |
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 |
Text |
author |
/Garrigue, Claire Clapham, P.J. Geyer, Y. Kennedy, A.S. Zerbini, A.N. |
spellingShingle |
/Garrigue, Claire Clapham, P.J. Geyer, Y. Kennedy, A.S. Zerbini, A.N. Satellite tracking reveals novel migratory patterns and the importance of seamounts for endangered South Pacific humpback whales |
author_facet |
/Garrigue, Claire Clapham, P.J. Geyer, Y. Kennedy, A.S. Zerbini, A.N. |
author_sort |
/Garrigue, Claire |
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 |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010065962 |
op_coverage |
NOUVELLE CALEDONIE OCEANIE PACIFIQUE |
genre |
Humpback Whale |
genre_facet |
Humpback Whale |
op_relation |
https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010065962 oai:ird.fr:fdi:010065962 Garrigue Claire, Clapham P.J., Geyer Y., Kennedy A.S., Zerbini A.N. Satellite tracking reveals novel migratory patterns and the importance of seamounts for endangered South Pacific humpback whales. 2015, 2, art. 150489 |
_version_ |
1810448816432742400 |