Southeastern Pacific humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) and their breeding grounds :distribution and habitat preference of singers and social groups off the coast of Ecuador
Understanding the distribution, habitat preference and social structure of highly migratory species at important life history stages (e.g., breeding and calving) is essential for conservation efforts. We investigated the spatial distribution and habitat preference of humpback whale social groups and...
Published in: | Marine Mammal Science |
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Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
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2017
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Online Access: | https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/southeastern-pacific-humpback-whales-megaptera-novaeangliae-and-their-breeding-grounds(4bc3e9e1-d2d0-4176-80bd-34b8d9d2870d).html https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12365 https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/11722/1/Garland_2016_MMS_SingersandSocialGroups_AM.pdf |
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ftunstandrewcris:oai:research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk:publications/4bc3e9e1-d2d0-4176-80bd-34b8d9d2870d 2024-06-23T07:53:35+00:00 Southeastern Pacific humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) and their breeding grounds :distribution and habitat preference of singers and social groups off the coast of Ecuador Oña, Javier Garland, Ellen C. Denkinger, Judith 2017-01 application/pdf https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/southeastern-pacific-humpback-whales-megaptera-novaeangliae-and-their-breeding-grounds(4bc3e9e1-d2d0-4176-80bd-34b8d9d2870d).html https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12365 https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/11722/1/Garland_2016_MMS_SingersandSocialGroups_AM.pdf eng eng https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/southeastern-pacific-humpback-whales-megaptera-novaeangliae-and-their-breeding-grounds(4bc3e9e1-d2d0-4176-80bd-34b8d9d2870d).html info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Oña , J , Garland , E C & Denkinger , J 2017 , ' Southeastern Pacific humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) and their breeding grounds : distribution and habitat preference of singers and social groups off the coast of Ecuador ' , Marine Mammal Science , vol. 33 , no. 1 , pp. 219-235 . https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12365 Song Spatial distribution Habitat preference Depth Sea floor substrate Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae Southeastern Pacific article 2017 ftunstandrewcris https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12365 2024-06-13T00:54:30Z Understanding the distribution, habitat preference and social structure of highly migratory species at important life history stages (e.g., breeding and calving) is essential for conservation efforts. We investigated the spatial distribution and habitat preference of humpback whale social groups and singers, in relation to depth categories (<20 m, 20–50 m, and >50 m) and substrate type (muddy and mixed) on a coastal southeastern Pacific breeding ground. One hundred and forty-three acoustic stations and 304 visual sightings were made at the breeding ground off the coast of Esmeraldas, Ecuador. Spatial autocorrelation analysis suggested singers were not randomly distributed, and Neu’s method and Monte Carlo simulations indicated that singers frequented depths of <20 m and mixed substrate. Singletons, and groups with a calf displayed a preference for shallower waters (0–20 m), while pairs and groups with a calf primarily inhabited mixed bottom substrates. In contrast, competitive groups showed no clear habitat preference and exhibited social segregation from other whales. Understanding the habitat preference and distribution of humpback whales on breeding and calving grounds vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbance provides important baseline information that should be incorporated into conservation efforts at a regional scale. Article in Journal/Newspaper Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae University of St Andrews: Research Portal Pacific Marine Mammal Science 33 1 219 235 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of St Andrews: Research Portal |
op_collection_id |
ftunstandrewcris |
language |
English |
topic |
Song Spatial distribution Habitat preference Depth Sea floor substrate Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae Southeastern Pacific |
spellingShingle |
Song Spatial distribution Habitat preference Depth Sea floor substrate Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae Southeastern Pacific Oña, Javier Garland, Ellen C. Denkinger, Judith Southeastern Pacific humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) and their breeding grounds :distribution and habitat preference of singers and social groups off the coast of Ecuador |
topic_facet |
Song Spatial distribution Habitat preference Depth Sea floor substrate Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae Southeastern Pacific |
description |
Understanding the distribution, habitat preference and social structure of highly migratory species at important life history stages (e.g., breeding and calving) is essential for conservation efforts. We investigated the spatial distribution and habitat preference of humpback whale social groups and singers, in relation to depth categories (<20 m, 20–50 m, and >50 m) and substrate type (muddy and mixed) on a coastal southeastern Pacific breeding ground. One hundred and forty-three acoustic stations and 304 visual sightings were made at the breeding ground off the coast of Esmeraldas, Ecuador. Spatial autocorrelation analysis suggested singers were not randomly distributed, and Neu’s method and Monte Carlo simulations indicated that singers frequented depths of <20 m and mixed substrate. Singletons, and groups with a calf displayed a preference for shallower waters (0–20 m), while pairs and groups with a calf primarily inhabited mixed bottom substrates. In contrast, competitive groups showed no clear habitat preference and exhibited social segregation from other whales. Understanding the habitat preference and distribution of humpback whales on breeding and calving grounds vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbance provides important baseline information that should be incorporated into conservation efforts at a regional scale. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Oña, Javier Garland, Ellen C. Denkinger, Judith |
author_facet |
Oña, Javier Garland, Ellen C. Denkinger, Judith |
author_sort |
Oña, Javier |
title |
Southeastern Pacific humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) and their breeding grounds :distribution and habitat preference of singers and social groups off the coast of Ecuador |
title_short |
Southeastern Pacific humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) and their breeding grounds :distribution and habitat preference of singers and social groups off the coast of Ecuador |
title_full |
Southeastern Pacific humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) and their breeding grounds :distribution and habitat preference of singers and social groups off the coast of Ecuador |
title_fullStr |
Southeastern Pacific humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) and their breeding grounds :distribution and habitat preference of singers and social groups off the coast of Ecuador |
title_full_unstemmed |
Southeastern Pacific humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) and their breeding grounds :distribution and habitat preference of singers and social groups off the coast of Ecuador |
title_sort |
southeastern pacific humpback whales ( megaptera novaeangliae ) and their breeding grounds :distribution and habitat preference of singers and social groups off the coast of ecuador |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/southeastern-pacific-humpback-whales-megaptera-novaeangliae-and-their-breeding-grounds(4bc3e9e1-d2d0-4176-80bd-34b8d9d2870d).html https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12365 https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/11722/1/Garland_2016_MMS_SingersandSocialGroups_AM.pdf |
geographic |
Pacific |
geographic_facet |
Pacific |
genre |
Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae |
genre_facet |
Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae |
op_source |
Oña , J , Garland , E C & Denkinger , J 2017 , ' Southeastern Pacific humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) and their breeding grounds : distribution and habitat preference of singers and social groups off the coast of Ecuador ' , Marine Mammal Science , vol. 33 , no. 1 , pp. 219-235 . https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12365 |
op_relation |
https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/southeastern-pacific-humpback-whales-megaptera-novaeangliae-and-their-breeding-grounds(4bc3e9e1-d2d0-4176-80bd-34b8d9d2870d).html |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12365 |
container_title |
Marine Mammal Science |
container_volume |
33 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
219 |
op_container_end_page |
235 |
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1802645321909534720 |