Abundance and distribution of cetaceans in the Gulf of Alaska

Rone, Brenda K.; Zerbini, Alexandre N.; Douglas, Annie B.; Weller, David W.; Clapham, Phillip J.

doi:10.1007/s00227-016-3052-2

Cited by 11 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…This region is considered a highly productive marine ecosystem due to its subarctic climate and the presence of upwelling that is linked to the Alaska Current and Alaska Coastal Current (Stabeno et al 2004). Historical whaling records (Danner et al 2006;Ivashchenko et al 2014;Rocha et al 2014) and more recent surveys (Consiglieri et al 1982;Brueggeman et al 1987Brueggeman et al , 1988Mellinger et al 2004aMellinger et al , 2004bZerbini et al 2006;Stafford et al 2007;Rone et al 2017) indicate that the GoA is utilized by both mysticetes and odontocetes, with very different life histories and habitat requirements.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many of the mysticetes found in this region were severely depleted by historic commercial whaling (Danner et al 2006;Rocha et al 2014). Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) are currently considered endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and have only occasionally been sighted in the GoA in recent years (Zerbini et al 2006;Calambokidis et al 2009;Rone et al 2017), but passive acoustic monitoring efforts indicate that blue whales from both the Northeast Pacific (NEP) and Central/Western Pacific (CWP) populations inhabit this region for at least a portion of the year (Stafford et al 2001(Stafford et al , 2007Stafford 2003;Zerbini et al 2006;Rone et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both of these species prey on krill and small schooling fish (Nemoto and Kawamura 1977;Witteveen 2008). High concentrations of fin and humpback whales are found around Kodiak Island, indicating the region's importance for foraging (Consiglieri et al 1982;Brueggeman et al 1987Brueggeman et al , 1988Waite et al 1999;Zerbini et al 2006;Stafford et al 2007;Ferguson et al 2015;Rone et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of the three known transient stocks in the area, one is considered depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and another is listed as threatened under the SARA (Muto et al 2019). In the GoA, sightings of killer whales are most common along the continental shelf and slope (Consiglieri et al 1982;Brueggeman et al 1987;Zerbini et al 2007;Rone et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finally, Baird's (Berardius bairdii), Cuvier's (Ziphius cavirostris), and Stejneger's (Mesoplodon stejnegeri) beaked whales have all been found in the GoA, primarily in deep offshore waters (Brueggeman et al 1987;Rone et al 2017). However, sightings of all beaked whale species are rare and their presence and distribution in the GoA have mostly been inferred from stranding data (Mitchell 1968;Loughlin and Perez 1985;Walker and Hanson 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cetacean occurrence in the Gulf of Alaska from long-term passive acoustic monitoring

et al. 2021

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The Gulf of Alaska is an important habitat for a diverse array of marine mammals, many of which were severely depleted by historical whaling. To study current cetacean distributions in this region, passive acoustic monitoring was used to detect species-specific call types between 2011 and 2015 at five locations spanning the continental shelf, slope, and offshore seamounts. Spatial and temporal detection patterns were examined for nine species to compare differences in behavior and habitat use. Mysticetes showed seasonal increases in calling that indicated possible behavioral shifts between feeding and breeding in blue (Balaenoptera musculus), fin (B. physalus), and humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) whales, and matched known migration timing of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus). Interannual changes in blue and fin whale calling may relate to the marine heat wave that began in 2013 and lasted through the end of the monitoring period. Odontocete detections revealed unique spatial distributions, with killer whales (Orcinus orca) most common on the continental shelf and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) most common on the continental slope, where detections occurred year-round. Beaked whales showed both spatial and temporal separation: Baird’s beaked whale (Berardius bairdii) detections were highest at Quinn Seamount in the spring, Cuvier’s (Ziphius cavirostris) at Pratt Seamount in winter, and Stejneger’s (Mesoplodon stejnegeri) on the continental slope in the fall. The year-round presence of many species highlights the ecological importance of the Gulf of Alaska and the spatiotemporal information reported here should inform future conservation efforts.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cetacean occurrence in the Gulf of Alaska from long-term passive acoustic monitoring

et al. 2021

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A bowhead whale in the eastern North Pacific

Towers

Pilkington

Mason³

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

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Bowhead whales occur in the Arctic year‐round. Their movements are largely correlated with seasonal expansions and reductions of sea ice, but a few recent extralimital sightings have occurred in the eastern and western North Atlantic and one was also documented in the western North Pacific over 50 years ago. Here we present details of a juvenile bowhead whale that was photographed and filmed from above and below the water while it was skim‐feeding in Caamaño Sound, BC, Canada on May 31, 2016. This sighting occurred over 2000 km southeast from the nearest known range for this species in the Bering Sea at a time that most bowhead whales in that region would have been migrating northeast. This sighting represents the first and only documentation of a bowhead whale in the eastern North Pacific to date.

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