2011
DOI: 10.3354/meps09027
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Baleen whale distributions and prey associations in the Barents Sea

Abstract: We investigated the spatial associations between minke Balaenoptera acutorostrata, fin B. physalus and humpback Megaptera novaeangliae whales and their prey in the Barents Sea in late summer of 2003 to 2007. During these years the abundance of their assumed primary prey, capelin Mallotus villotus, was low due to a stock collapse. The whales were therefore expected to associate with abundant herring Clupea harengus in the southern Barents Sea and krill (Euphausiacea) in the central and northern Barents Sea. The… Show more

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Cited by 53 publications
(49 citation statements)
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“…During the first part of this period (2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007), the majority of minke whales were feeding in the northern Barents Sea, north of the polar front in association with high zooplankton (krill) concentrations in the productive marginal ice zone (Skern-Mauritzen et al, 2011). They were also predominantly north of the capelin, further indicating that capelin was not the major forage species, at least not in these years with low capelin abundances.…”
Section: Common Minke Whalesmentioning
confidence: 93%
“…During the first part of this period (2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007), the majority of minke whales were feeding in the northern Barents Sea, north of the polar front in association with high zooplankton (krill) concentrations in the productive marginal ice zone (Skern-Mauritzen et al, 2011). They were also predominantly north of the capelin, further indicating that capelin was not the major forage species, at least not in these years with low capelin abundances.…”
Section: Common Minke Whalesmentioning
confidence: 93%
“…The cod stock used a large area, whereas prey were found in more segregated niches (Skern-Mauritzen et al 2011). Cod had seemingly unconstrained access to capelin and were also able to feed successfully at the border of the distribution of the abundant polar cod (during the years of study there were on average 83.5 × 10 9 ind.…”
Section: Implications For the Bs Food Webmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…While the role of krill as a key trophiclink in the Pacific Arctic is poorly understood, its importance as prey for baleen whales is well established in Atlantic Arctic and Antarctic marine ecosystems (e.g. [23,24]). …”
Section: Habitat Partitioning Among Baleen Whales In the Pacific Arcticmentioning
confidence: 99%