The waters of São Tomé: a calving ground for West African humpback whales?

In the Southern Hemisphere, humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae feed in Antarctic waters during the austral summer and migrate to their breeding grounds in subtropical and tropical waters during the winter. Historical whaling records suggest that the Archipelago of Sao Tome and Principe, located...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:African Journal of Marine Science
Main Authors: Carvalho, Inês, Brito, C., dos Santos, M. E., Rosenbaum, H. C.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Natl Inquiry Services Centre Pty Ltd 2011
Subjects:
Megaptera-Novaeangliae
Population-structure
Wintering grounds
Breeding grounds
North Pacific
Orcinus-Orca
Atlantic
Movements
Segregation
Archipelago
Antarctic
Austral
Pacific
Antarc*
Megaptera novaeangliae
Orca
Orcinus orca
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/12074
https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2011.572353
Description
Summary:In the Southern Hemisphere, humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae feed in Antarctic waters during the austral summer and migrate to their breeding grounds in subtropical and tropical waters during the winter. Historical whaling records suggest that the Archipelago of Sao Tome and Principe, located in the Gulf of Guinea, serves as a possible breeding ground. In order to investigate the temporal occurrence and group composition of humpback whales around Sao Tome Island, annual surveys were conducted during the breeding season between 2002 and 2006. A total of 186 boat-based surveys took place during this period. Data collected during each sighting included geographical positions, group size, group composition and behavioural classifications. Of the 66 groups encountered, mother/calf pairs made up a large proportion (65.15%), followed by solitary individuals (15.15%). Mother/calf pairs were seen in the region into November and resightings of identified animals indicate periods of occupancy that extended over three weeks. Few behaviours typically associated with mating activity were observed. Given the high percentage of mother/calf pairs, sometimes with very young calves, and the low frequency of mating activity, the waters of Sao Tome may primarily serve as a calving and nursing or resting area for humpback whales. Projecto Delfim; Rolas Island Resort; ECOFAC (Conservation et utilisation rationnelle des Ecosystemes Forestiers en Afrique Centrale); Wildlife Conservation Society;

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