Using calls as an indicator for Antarctic blue whale occurrence and distribution across the southwest Pacific and southeast Indian Oceans

Understanding species distribution and behavior is essential for conservation programs of migratory species with recovering populations. The critically endangered Antarctic blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia) was heavily exploited during the whaling era. Because of their low numbers, highl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine Mammal Science
Main Authors: Balcazar, NE, Klinck, H, Nieukirk, SL, Mellinger, DK, Klinck, K, Dziak, RP, Rogers, TL
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: Wiley 2017
Subjects:
15 Life on Land
14 Life Below Water
anzsrc-for: 0602 Ecology
anzsrc-for: 0603 Evolutionary Biology
anzsrc-for: 0608 Zoology
Antarctic
Austral
Pacific
Indian
Antarc*
Balaenoptera musculus
Blue whale
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1959.4/unsworks_42807
https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12373
Description
Summary:Understanding species distribution and behavior is essential for conservation programs of migratory species with recovering populations. The critically endangered Antarctic blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia) was heavily exploited during the whaling era. Because of their low numbers, highly migratory behavior, and occurrence in remote areas, their distribution and range are not fully understood, particularly in the southwest Pacific Ocean. This is the first Antarctic blue whale study covering the southwest Pacific Ocean region from temperate to tropical waters (32°S to 15°S). Passive acoustic data were recorded between 2010 and 2011 across the southwest Pacific (SWPO) and southeast Indian (SEIO) oceans. We detected Antarctic blue whale calls in previously undocumented SWPO locations off eastern Australia (32°S, 152°E) and within the Lau Basin (20°S, 176°W and 15°S, 173°W), and SEIO off northwest Australia (19°S, 115°E).In temperate waters, adjacent ocean basins had similar seasonal occurrence, in that calling Antarctic blue whales were present for long periods, almost year round in some areas. In northern tropical waters, calling whales were mostly present during the austral winter. Clarifying the occurrence and distribution of critically endangered species is fundamental for monitoring population recovery, marine protected area planning, and in mitigating anthropogenic threats.

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