Distribution and abundance of sei whales off the west coast of the Falkland Islands
Little information exists on the current status of Southern Hemisphere sei whales ( Balaenoptera borealis ). We assessed their distribution and abundance along the west coast of the Falkland Islands (southwest Atlantic) during February and March 2018, using line transect and nonsystematic surveys. A...
Published in: | Marine Mammal Science |
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Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
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2021
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Online Access: | https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutput/distribution-and-abundance-of-sei-whales-off-the-west-coast-of-the-falkland-islands(288f467d-64b8-4e69-bbe6-a898c3a1ec49).html https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12784 https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/24861/1/Weir_2021_Distribution_and_abundance_MMS_AAM.pdf |
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ftunstandrewcris:oai:risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk:publications/288f467d-64b8-4e69-bbe6-a898c3a1ec49 2023-05-15T15:36:14+02:00 Distribution and abundance of sei whales off the west coast of the Falkland Islands Weir, Caroline R. Taylor, Maria Jelbes, Pamela A. Q. Stanworth, Andrew Hammond, Philip S. 2021-07 application/pdf https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutput/distribution-and-abundance-of-sei-whales-off-the-west-coast-of-the-falkland-islands(288f467d-64b8-4e69-bbe6-a898c3a1ec49).html https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12784 https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/24861/1/Weir_2021_Distribution_and_abundance_MMS_AAM.pdf eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Weir , C R , Taylor , M , Jelbes , P A Q , Stanworth , A & Hammond , P S 2021 , ' Distribution and abundance of sei whales off the west coast of the Falkland Islands ' , Marine Mammal Science , vol. 37 , no. 3 , pp. 919-933 . https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12784 Atlantic Ocean Balaenoptera borealis Coastal Density Feeding ground Key Biodiversity Area Management Southern Hemisphere article 2021 ftunstandrewcris https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12784 2022-06-02T07:52:43Z Little information exists on the current status of Southern Hemisphere sei whales ( Balaenoptera borealis ). We assessed their distribution and abundance along the west coast of the Falkland Islands (southwest Atlantic) during February and March 2018, using line transect and nonsystematic surveys. Abundance estimates were generated for a single survey stratum using design- and model-based approaches. Sightings of sei whales and unidentified baleen whales (most, if not all, likely to be sei whales) occurred from the coast to the 100 m depth isobath that marked the offshore boundary of the stratum. The modeled distribution predicted highest whale densities in King George Bay and in the waters between Weddell Island and the Passage Islands. Sei whale abundance was estimated as 716 animals (CV = 0.22; 95% CI [448, 1,144]; density = 0.20 whales/km 2 ) using the design-based approach, and 707 animals (CV = 0.11; 95% CI [566, 877]; density = 0.20 whales/km 2 ) using the model-based approach. For sei whales and unidentified baleen whales combined, the equivalent estimates were 916 animals (CV = 0.19; 95% CI [606, 1,384]; density = 0.26 whales/km 2 ) and 895 animals (CV = 0.074; 95% CI [777, 1,032]; density = 0.25 whales/km 2 ). The data indicate that the Falkland Islands inner shelf region may support globally important seasonal feeding aggregations of sei whales, and potentially qualify as a Key Biodiversity Area. Article in Journal/Newspaper Balaenoptera borealis baleen whales Sei Whale University of St Andrews: Research Portal George Bay ENVELOPE(-36.239,-36.239,-54.370,-54.370) King George Bay ENVELOPE(-58.066,-58.066,-62.100,-62.100) Weddell Marine Mammal Science 37 3 919 933 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of St Andrews: Research Portal |
op_collection_id |
ftunstandrewcris |
language |
English |
topic |
Atlantic Ocean Balaenoptera borealis Coastal Density Feeding ground Key Biodiversity Area Management Southern Hemisphere |
spellingShingle |
Atlantic Ocean Balaenoptera borealis Coastal Density Feeding ground Key Biodiversity Area Management Southern Hemisphere Weir, Caroline R. Taylor, Maria Jelbes, Pamela A. Q. Stanworth, Andrew Hammond, Philip S. Distribution and abundance of sei whales off the west coast of the Falkland Islands |
topic_facet |
Atlantic Ocean Balaenoptera borealis Coastal Density Feeding ground Key Biodiversity Area Management Southern Hemisphere |
description |
Little information exists on the current status of Southern Hemisphere sei whales ( Balaenoptera borealis ). We assessed their distribution and abundance along the west coast of the Falkland Islands (southwest Atlantic) during February and March 2018, using line transect and nonsystematic surveys. Abundance estimates were generated for a single survey stratum using design- and model-based approaches. Sightings of sei whales and unidentified baleen whales (most, if not all, likely to be sei whales) occurred from the coast to the 100 m depth isobath that marked the offshore boundary of the stratum. The modeled distribution predicted highest whale densities in King George Bay and in the waters between Weddell Island and the Passage Islands. Sei whale abundance was estimated as 716 animals (CV = 0.22; 95% CI [448, 1,144]; density = 0.20 whales/km 2 ) using the design-based approach, and 707 animals (CV = 0.11; 95% CI [566, 877]; density = 0.20 whales/km 2 ) using the model-based approach. For sei whales and unidentified baleen whales combined, the equivalent estimates were 916 animals (CV = 0.19; 95% CI [606, 1,384]; density = 0.26 whales/km 2 ) and 895 animals (CV = 0.074; 95% CI [777, 1,032]; density = 0.25 whales/km 2 ). The data indicate that the Falkland Islands inner shelf region may support globally important seasonal feeding aggregations of sei whales, and potentially qualify as a Key Biodiversity Area. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Weir, Caroline R. Taylor, Maria Jelbes, Pamela A. Q. Stanworth, Andrew Hammond, Philip S. |
author_facet |
Weir, Caroline R. Taylor, Maria Jelbes, Pamela A. Q. Stanworth, Andrew Hammond, Philip S. |
author_sort |
Weir, Caroline R. |
title |
Distribution and abundance of sei whales off the west coast of the Falkland Islands |
title_short |
Distribution and abundance of sei whales off the west coast of the Falkland Islands |
title_full |
Distribution and abundance of sei whales off the west coast of the Falkland Islands |
title_fullStr |
Distribution and abundance of sei whales off the west coast of the Falkland Islands |
title_full_unstemmed |
Distribution and abundance of sei whales off the west coast of the Falkland Islands |
title_sort |
distribution and abundance of sei whales off the west coast of the falkland islands |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutput/distribution-and-abundance-of-sei-whales-off-the-west-coast-of-the-falkland-islands(288f467d-64b8-4e69-bbe6-a898c3a1ec49).html https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12784 https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/24861/1/Weir_2021_Distribution_and_abundance_MMS_AAM.pdf |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-36.239,-36.239,-54.370,-54.370) ENVELOPE(-58.066,-58.066,-62.100,-62.100) |
geographic |
George Bay King George Bay Weddell |
geographic_facet |
George Bay King George Bay Weddell |
genre |
Balaenoptera borealis baleen whales Sei Whale |
genre_facet |
Balaenoptera borealis baleen whales Sei Whale |
op_source |
Weir , C R , Taylor , M , Jelbes , P A Q , Stanworth , A & Hammond , P S 2021 , ' Distribution and abundance of sei whales off the west coast of the Falkland Islands ' , Marine Mammal Science , vol. 37 , no. 3 , pp. 919-933 . https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12784 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12784 |
container_title |
Marine Mammal Science |
container_volume |
37 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
919 |
op_container_end_page |
933 |
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1766366581144682496 |