Levels and probable origin of predatory scarring on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in east Australian waters
To investigate the incidence of non-lethal predation in Southern Hemisphere whales, more than 3400 fluke-identification photographs from resight histories of 1436 east Australian humpback whales were examined for evidence of predatory markings. Photographs were obtained from 1984 to 1996 at various...
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ftunivqespace:oai:espace.library.uq.edu.au:UQ:68706 2023-05-15T15:36:00+02:00 Levels and probable origin of predatory scarring on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in east Australian waters Naesigg, Patricia J. Lanyon, Janet M. 2004-01-01 https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:68706 eng eng CSIRO doi:10.1071/WR03086 issn:1035-3712 issn:1448-5494 orcid:0000-0003-1453-5594 Ecology Zoology Killer Whales Orcinus-orca Balaena-mysticetus Galapagos-islands Marine Mammals Sperm-whales Attack Alaska Prey Bay C1 06 Biological Sciences 060899 Zoology not elsewhere classified Journal Article 2004 ftunivqespace https://doi.org/10.1071/WR03086 2020-10-26T23:33:25Z To investigate the incidence of non-lethal predation in Southern Hemisphere whales, more than 3400 fluke-identification photographs from resight histories of 1436 east Australian humpback whales were examined for evidence of predatory markings. Photographs were obtained from 1984 to 1996 at various locations along the east coast of Australia, from northern Queensland to southern New South Wales. Photographs were classified in terms of the level and type of scarring. The possible predator and whether the markings appeared fresh were also noted. In all, 17% of identified east Australian humpbacks possessed some form of predatory scarring, 57% of which was minor and 43% major. Almost all predatory scarring was consistent with that inflicted by killer whales. Only three whales demonstrated an increase in the level of predatory scarring after their first sightings. Two incidents of fresh scarring were recorded, and one fatal killer whale attack on a humpback whale calf was directly observed. The overall level of predatory scarring found in this study is comparable to those found in studies for Northern Hemisphere humpback whales. The low incidence of adult whales showing their first sign of predatory scarring after their initial sighting, and the small number possessing recent scarring, support the idea that east Australian humpback whales experience most predatory attacks early in life. Article in Journal/Newspaper Balaena mysticetus Humpback Whale Killer Whale Megaptera novaeangliae Orca Orcinus orca Alaska Killer whale The University of Queensland: UQ eSpace Galapagos Queensland Wildlife Research 31 2 163 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
The University of Queensland: UQ eSpace |
op_collection_id |
ftunivqespace |
language |
English |
topic |
Ecology Zoology Killer Whales Orcinus-orca Balaena-mysticetus Galapagos-islands Marine Mammals Sperm-whales Attack Alaska Prey Bay C1 06 Biological Sciences 060899 Zoology not elsewhere classified |
spellingShingle |
Ecology Zoology Killer Whales Orcinus-orca Balaena-mysticetus Galapagos-islands Marine Mammals Sperm-whales Attack Alaska Prey Bay C1 06 Biological Sciences 060899 Zoology not elsewhere classified Naesigg, Patricia J. Lanyon, Janet M. Levels and probable origin of predatory scarring on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in east Australian waters |
topic_facet |
Ecology Zoology Killer Whales Orcinus-orca Balaena-mysticetus Galapagos-islands Marine Mammals Sperm-whales Attack Alaska Prey Bay C1 06 Biological Sciences 060899 Zoology not elsewhere classified |
description |
To investigate the incidence of non-lethal predation in Southern Hemisphere whales, more than 3400 fluke-identification photographs from resight histories of 1436 east Australian humpback whales were examined for evidence of predatory markings. Photographs were obtained from 1984 to 1996 at various locations along the east coast of Australia, from northern Queensland to southern New South Wales. Photographs were classified in terms of the level and type of scarring. The possible predator and whether the markings appeared fresh were also noted. In all, 17% of identified east Australian humpbacks possessed some form of predatory scarring, 57% of which was minor and 43% major. Almost all predatory scarring was consistent with that inflicted by killer whales. Only three whales demonstrated an increase in the level of predatory scarring after their first sightings. Two incidents of fresh scarring were recorded, and one fatal killer whale attack on a humpback whale calf was directly observed. The overall level of predatory scarring found in this study is comparable to those found in studies for Northern Hemisphere humpback whales. The low incidence of adult whales showing their first sign of predatory scarring after their initial sighting, and the small number possessing recent scarring, support the idea that east Australian humpback whales experience most predatory attacks early in life. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Naesigg, Patricia J. Lanyon, Janet M. |
author_facet |
Naesigg, Patricia J. Lanyon, Janet M. |
author_sort |
Naesigg, Patricia J. |
title |
Levels and probable origin of predatory scarring on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in east Australian waters |
title_short |
Levels and probable origin of predatory scarring on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in east Australian waters |
title_full |
Levels and probable origin of predatory scarring on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in east Australian waters |
title_fullStr |
Levels and probable origin of predatory scarring on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in east Australian waters |
title_full_unstemmed |
Levels and probable origin of predatory scarring on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in east Australian waters |
title_sort |
levels and probable origin of predatory scarring on humpback whales (megaptera novaeangliae) in east australian waters |
publisher |
CSIRO |
publishDate |
2004 |
url |
https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:68706 |
geographic |
Galapagos Queensland |
geographic_facet |
Galapagos Queensland |
genre |
Balaena mysticetus Humpback Whale Killer Whale Megaptera novaeangliae Orca Orcinus orca Alaska Killer whale |
genre_facet |
Balaena mysticetus Humpback Whale Killer Whale Megaptera novaeangliae Orca Orcinus orca Alaska Killer whale |
op_relation |
doi:10.1071/WR03086 issn:1035-3712 issn:1448-5494 orcid:0000-0003-1453-5594 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1071/WR03086 |
container_title |
Wildlife Research |
container_volume |
31 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
163 |
_version_ |
1766366338344812544 |