Summer distribution of marine mammals encountered along transects between South Africa and Antarctica during 2007-2012 in relation to oceanographic features

• Main Authors: Joiris, C.R., Humphries, G.R.W., De Broyer, A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: Marine mammals; Antarctica; Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctic Minke whale; Balaenoptera bonaerensis; baleen whales; Crabeater Seal; Fin whale; Humpback Whale; Lobodon carcinophagus; Megaptera novaeangliae; minke whale; toothed whale; toothed whales
• Online Access: https://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/281153.pdf

The at-sea summertime distribution of marine mammals between South Africa and Antarctica was determined along eight transects surveyed between December 2007 and January 2012. During 1930 30-minute transect counts, 1390 marine mammal individuals were attributed to 19 species: eight toothed whales ( Odontoceti ), six pinnipeds, and five baleen whales ( Mysticeti ). An additional two toothed-whale species were encountered ‘out of effort’. The four most numerous species accounted for 85% of the total number of individuals encountered: crabeater seal ( Lobodon carcinophagus ), humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae ), Antarctic Minke whale ( Balaenoptera bonaerensis ) and fin whale ( B. physalus ). The distribution of these species was related to oceanographic features, such as water masses and fronts, pack ice and ice edge: These differences were statistically highly significant. Biodiversity was compared with other polar marine ecosystems.