Distribution and numbers of narwhals (Monodon monoceros) in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait
Aerial surveys were conducted over Baffin Bay during May-October 1978-79 and off West Greenland and over southern Baffin Bay, Davis Strait and Hudson Strait during March 1981-82. Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) were dispersed throughout the pack ice in northern Davis Strait and Baffin Bay during late w...
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Danish Polar Center/Museum Tusculanum Press
1994
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Online Access: | https://tidsskrift.dk/meddrgroenland_biosci/article/view/142532 |
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ftsbaarhusojs:oai:ojs.tidsskrift.dk:article/142532 2024-01-28T10:04:38+01:00 Distribution and numbers of narwhals (Monodon monoceros) in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait Koski, William A. Davis, Ralph A. 1994-04-22 application/pdf https://tidsskrift.dk/meddrgroenland_biosci/article/view/142532 eng eng Danish Polar Center/Museum Tusculanum Press https://tidsskrift.dk/meddrgroenland_biosci/article/view/142532/186206 https://tidsskrift.dk/meddrgroenland_biosci/article/view/142532 Meddelelser om Grønland. Bioscience; Vol. 39 (1994): Meddelelser om Grønland. Bioscience; 15-40 Meddelelser om Grønland. Bioscience; Årg. 39 (1994): Meddelelser om Grønland. Bioscience; 15-40 0106-1054 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 1994 ftsbaarhusojs 2024-01-03T23:59:24Z Aerial surveys were conducted over Baffin Bay during May-October 1978-79 and off West Greenland and over southern Baffin Bay, Davis Strait and Hudson Strait during March 1981-82. Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) were dispersed throughout the pack ice in northern Davis Strait and Baffin Bay during late winter and spring and moved into nearshore areas in and adjacent to Lancaster Sound during late June and July. Important summering areas were identified in Buchan Gulf, Eclipse Sound, Admiralty Inlet, Prince Regent Inlet and Peel Sound, and possibly in Smith Sound and Home Bay, but there was considerable variation in the numbers of narwhals entering these areas each year. Narwhals remained in nearshore areas until late September or early October when they moved south in advance of and with the newly-forming pack ice. During autumn narwhals tended to migrate in large herds, moving both along the coast of Baffin Island and through offshore waters. Our best estimates of the size of the narwhal population have come from surveys conducted in late spring when the whales are widely dispersed among the offshore pack ice. An estimated 34 363 (± SE 8282) narwhals were present in offshore areas of Baffin Bay that were surveyed four times in May-July 1979. This late spring estimate included narwhals that later summered on both the east and west sides of Baffin Bay and Davis Strait, but excluded animals that summered in northern Hudson Bay. It does not include animals outside the survey area nor is it corrected to account for animals below the surface. Our aerial survey data indicate that 7.8-9.0% of narwhals in summering areas were calves. An estimate of calving rate is 0.29 calves/adult female/year based on sightings of I-month-old calves without considering mortality between birth and the survey date. The mortality rate of calves from I month to 13 months of age is estimated as approximately 17%. Article in Journal/Newspaper Baffin Bay Baffin Bay Baffin Island Baffin Buchan Gulf Davis Strait Eclipse Sound Greenland Home bay Hudson Bay Hudson Strait Lancaster Sound Monodon monoceros narwhal* Prince Regent Inlet Smith sound Aarhus University: OJS at The State and University Library Hudson Bay Baffin Bay Baffin Island Greenland Hudson Hudson Strait ENVELOPE(-70.000,-70.000,62.000,62.000) Lancaster Sound ENVELOPE(-83.999,-83.999,74.218,74.218) Smith Sound ENVELOPE(-73.996,-73.996,78.419,78.419) Buchan ENVELOPE(-44.700,-44.700,-60.766,-60.766) Eclipse Sound ENVELOPE(-78.998,-78.998,72.635,72.635) Admiralty Inlet ENVELOPE(-86.000,-86.000,72.501,72.501) Peel Sound ENVELOPE(-96.334,-96.334,73.001,73.001) Prince Regent Inlet ENVELOPE(-90.431,-90.431,72.993,72.993) Buchan Gulf ENVELOPE(-74.342,-74.342,71.764,71.764) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Aarhus University: OJS at The State and University Library |
op_collection_id |
ftsbaarhusojs |
language |
English |
description |
Aerial surveys were conducted over Baffin Bay during May-October 1978-79 and off West Greenland and over southern Baffin Bay, Davis Strait and Hudson Strait during March 1981-82. Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) were dispersed throughout the pack ice in northern Davis Strait and Baffin Bay during late winter and spring and moved into nearshore areas in and adjacent to Lancaster Sound during late June and July. Important summering areas were identified in Buchan Gulf, Eclipse Sound, Admiralty Inlet, Prince Regent Inlet and Peel Sound, and possibly in Smith Sound and Home Bay, but there was considerable variation in the numbers of narwhals entering these areas each year. Narwhals remained in nearshore areas until late September or early October when they moved south in advance of and with the newly-forming pack ice. During autumn narwhals tended to migrate in large herds, moving both along the coast of Baffin Island and through offshore waters. Our best estimates of the size of the narwhal population have come from surveys conducted in late spring when the whales are widely dispersed among the offshore pack ice. An estimated 34 363 (± SE 8282) narwhals were present in offshore areas of Baffin Bay that were surveyed four times in May-July 1979. This late spring estimate included narwhals that later summered on both the east and west sides of Baffin Bay and Davis Strait, but excluded animals that summered in northern Hudson Bay. It does not include animals outside the survey area nor is it corrected to account for animals below the surface. Our aerial survey data indicate that 7.8-9.0% of narwhals in summering areas were calves. An estimate of calving rate is 0.29 calves/adult female/year based on sightings of I-month-old calves without considering mortality between birth and the survey date. The mortality rate of calves from I month to 13 months of age is estimated as approximately 17%. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Koski, William A. Davis, Ralph A. |
spellingShingle |
Koski, William A. Davis, Ralph A. Distribution and numbers of narwhals (Monodon monoceros) in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait |
author_facet |
Koski, William A. Davis, Ralph A. |
author_sort |
Koski, William A. |
title |
Distribution and numbers of narwhals (Monodon monoceros) in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait |
title_short |
Distribution and numbers of narwhals (Monodon monoceros) in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait |
title_full |
Distribution and numbers of narwhals (Monodon monoceros) in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait |
title_fullStr |
Distribution and numbers of narwhals (Monodon monoceros) in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait |
title_full_unstemmed |
Distribution and numbers of narwhals (Monodon monoceros) in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait |
title_sort |
distribution and numbers of narwhals (monodon monoceros) in baffin bay and davis strait |
publisher |
Danish Polar Center/Museum Tusculanum Press |
publishDate |
1994 |
url |
https://tidsskrift.dk/meddrgroenland_biosci/article/view/142532 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-70.000,-70.000,62.000,62.000) ENVELOPE(-83.999,-83.999,74.218,74.218) ENVELOPE(-73.996,-73.996,78.419,78.419) ENVELOPE(-44.700,-44.700,-60.766,-60.766) ENVELOPE(-78.998,-78.998,72.635,72.635) ENVELOPE(-86.000,-86.000,72.501,72.501) ENVELOPE(-96.334,-96.334,73.001,73.001) ENVELOPE(-90.431,-90.431,72.993,72.993) ENVELOPE(-74.342,-74.342,71.764,71.764) |
geographic |
Hudson Bay Baffin Bay Baffin Island Greenland Hudson Hudson Strait Lancaster Sound Smith Sound Buchan Eclipse Sound Admiralty Inlet Peel Sound Prince Regent Inlet Buchan Gulf |
geographic_facet |
Hudson Bay Baffin Bay Baffin Island Greenland Hudson Hudson Strait Lancaster Sound Smith Sound Buchan Eclipse Sound Admiralty Inlet Peel Sound Prince Regent Inlet Buchan Gulf |
genre |
Baffin Bay Baffin Bay Baffin Island Baffin Buchan Gulf Davis Strait Eclipse Sound Greenland Home bay Hudson Bay Hudson Strait Lancaster Sound Monodon monoceros narwhal* Prince Regent Inlet Smith sound |
genre_facet |
Baffin Bay Baffin Bay Baffin Island Baffin Buchan Gulf Davis Strait Eclipse Sound Greenland Home bay Hudson Bay Hudson Strait Lancaster Sound Monodon monoceros narwhal* Prince Regent Inlet Smith sound |
op_source |
Meddelelser om Grønland. Bioscience; Vol. 39 (1994): Meddelelser om Grønland. Bioscience; 15-40 Meddelelser om Grønland. Bioscience; Årg. 39 (1994): Meddelelser om Grønland. Bioscience; 15-40 0106-1054 |
op_relation |
https://tidsskrift.dk/meddrgroenland_biosci/article/view/142532/186206 https://tidsskrift.dk/meddrgroenland_biosci/article/view/142532 |
_version_ |
1789330403349233664 |