Temporal stability and mixed-stock analyses of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the nearshore waters of the Western Antarctic Peninsula

Albertson, G. Renee; Friedlaender, Ari S.; Steel, Debbie; Aguayo‐Lobo, Anelio; Bonatto, Sandro L.; Caballero, Susana; Constantine, Rochelle; Cypriano-Souza, A. L.; Engel, Márcia H.; Garrigue, Claire; Flórez‐González, Lilián; Johnston, David W.; Nowacek, Doug; Olavarría, Carlos; Poole, M. Michael; Read, Andrew J.; Robbins, Jooke; Sremba, Angela L.; Baker, C. Scott

doi:10.1007/s00300-017-2193-1

Cited by 20 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…A concurrent genetic and photo-identification study from the Kermadecs [21] strongly reinforced our findings: individuals from multiple populations (excluding eastern Australia and French Polynesia) were passing the Kermadecs on their southward migration. Thus far, genetic and satellite tagging studies have not found a migratory link or route between eastern Australia and the Kermadecs [40][41][42], and although the exact location of the summer feeding ground(s) or the migratory routes for the French Polynesian population remains elusive, photoidentification and genetic matches have been found with the Antarctic Peninsula (South America) to the east [43]. Migrating via the Kermadecs would represent a large and potentially unnecessary deviation for both eastern Australian and French Polynesian whales.…”

Section: Possible Origins Of Kermadec Singersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Migratory convergence facilitates cultural transmission of humpback whale song

et al. 2019

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Cultural transmission of behaviour is important in a wide variety of vertebrate taxa from birds to humans. Vocal traditions and vocal learning provide a strong foundation for studying culture and its transmission in both humans and cetaceans. Male humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) perform complex, culturally transmitted song displays that can change both evolutionarily (through accumulations of small changes) or revolutionarily (where a population rapidly adopts a novel song). The degree of coordination and conformity underlying song revolutions makes their study of particular interest. Acoustic contact on migratory routes may provide a mechanism for cultural revolutions of song, yet these areas of contact remain uncertain. Here, we compared songs recorded from the Kermadec Islands, a recently discovered migratory stopover, to multiple South Pacific wintering grounds. Similarities in song themes from the Kermadec Islands and multiple wintering locations (from New Caledonia across to the Cook Islands) suggest a location allowing cultural transmission of song eastward across the South Pacific, active song learning (hybrid songs) and the potential for cultural convergence after acoustic isolation at the wintering grounds. As with the correlations in humans between genes, communication and migration, the migration patterns of humpback whales are written into their songs.

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Section: Possible Origins Of Kermadec Singersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Migratory convergence facilitates cultural transmission of humpback whale song

et al. 2019

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“…Historically, South Pacific whales were thought to feed in Antarctic areas roughly south of their breeding grounds [13,14]. However, recent studies using satellite tags, photographic mark-recapture and genetic analyses have revealed that humpback whales spread across a vast range of circumpolar longitudes during the feeding season and mix with whales from other breeding areas [2,5,11,[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. This complexity in movement, in conjunction with limited resources to study their lengthy migration patterns, results in a paucity of understanding about the migratory routes of humpback whales that breed in the South Pacific.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Migratory insights from singing humpback whales recorded around central New Zealand

et al. 2020

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The migration routes of wide-ranging species can be difficult to study, particularly at sea. In the western South Pacific, migratory routes of humpback whales between breeding and feeding areas are unclear. Male humpback whales sing a population-specific song, which can be used to match singers on migration to a breeding population. To investigate migratory routes and breeding area connections, passive acoustic recorders were deployed in the central New Zealand migratory corridor (2016); recorded humpback whale song was compared to song from the closest breeding populations of East Australia and New Caledonia (2015–2017). Singing northbound whales migrated past New Zealand from June to August via the east coast of the South Island and Cook Strait. Few song detections were made along the east coast of the North Island. New Zealand song matched New Caledonia song, suggesting a migratory destination, but connectivity to East Australia could not be ruled out. Two song types were present in New Zealand, illustrating the potential for easterly song transmission from East Australia to New Caledonia in this shared migratory corridor. This study enhances our understanding of western South Pacific humpback whale breeding population connectivity, and provides novel insights into the dynamic transmission of song culture.

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“…The WAP is an important feeding ground for humpback whales (breeding stock G) that winter along the west coast of South and Central America (e.g. Ecuador, Colombia and Panama) and perhaps other populations as well [9,11]. The timing of migration, and therefore the duration of feeding during the austral summer and fall is critical to fuelling the migration of whales to their low latitude breeding grounds [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High pregnancy rates in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) around the Western Antarctic Peninsula, evidence of a rapidly growing population

et al. 2018

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Antarctic humpback whales are recovering from near extirpation from commercial whaling. To understand the dynamics of this recovery and establish a baseline to monitor impacts of a rapidly changing environment, we investigated sex ratios and pregnancy rates of females within the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) feeding population. DNA profiling of 577 tissue samples (2010–2016) identified 239 males and 268 females. Blubber progesterone levels indicated 63.5% of the females biopsied were pregnant. This proportion varied significantly across years, from 36% in 2010 to 86% in 2014. A comparison of samples collected in summer versus fall showed significant increases in the proportion of females present (50% to 59%) and pregnant (59% to 72%), consistent with demographic variation in migratory timing. We also found evidence of annual reproduction among females; 54.5% of females accompanied by a calf were pregnant. These high pregnancy rates are consistent with a population recovering from past exploitation, but appear inconsistent with recent estimates of WAP humpback population growth. Thus, our results will help to better understand population growth potential and set a current baseline from which to determine the impact of climate change and variability on fecundity and reproductive rates.

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Temporal stability and mixed-stock analyses of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the nearshore waters of the Western Antarctic Peninsula

Cited by 20 publications

References 62 publications

Migratory convergence facilitates cultural transmission of humpback whale song

Migratory convergence facilitates cultural transmission of humpback whale song

Migratory insights from singing humpback whales recorded around central New Zealand

High pregnancy rates in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) around the Western Antarctic Peninsula, evidence of a rapidly growing population

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