Modeling the spatial and temporal dynamics of foraging movements of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Western Antarctic Peninsula

Movement Ecology

Ari S Friedlaender⁵  Patrick N Halpin³  Nick Gales¹  Hugh Ducklow²  David W Johnston⁶  Corrie Curtice⁴ 

[1] Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston, TAS, Australia;Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades 10964, NY, USA;Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham 27708, NC, USA;Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort 28516, NC, USA;Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport 97365, OR, USA;Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort 28516, NC, USA

关键词: Product kernel;    Space-time utilization distribution;    Satellite telemetry;    Antarctic krill;    Western Antarctic Peninsula;    Foraging;    Humpback whale;   

Others  :  1210330
DOI  :  10.1186/s40462-015-0041-x

 received in 2014-11-04, accepted in 2015-04-27,  发布年份 2015

【 摘 要 】

Background

A population of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) spends the austral summer feeding on Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) along the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP). These whales acquire their annual energetic needs during an episodic feeding season in high latitude waters that must sustain long-distance migration and fasting on low-latitude breeding grounds. Antarctic krill are broadly distributed along the continental shelf and nearshore waters during the spring and early summer, and move closer to land during late summer and fall, where they overwinter under the protective and nutritional cover of sea ice. We apply a novel space-time utilization distribution method to test the hypothesis that humpback whale distribution reflects that of krill: spread broadly during summer with increasing proximity to shore and associated embayments during fall.

Results

Humpback whales instrumented with satellite-linked positional telemetry tags (n = 5), show decreased home range size, amount of area used, and increased proximity to shore over the foraging season.

Conclusions

This study applies a new method to model the movements of humpback whales in the WAP region throughout the feeding season, and presents a baseline for future observations of the seasonal changes in the movement patterns and foraging behavior of humpback whales (one of several krill-predators affected by climate-driven changes) in the WAP marine ecosystem. As the WAP continues to warm, it is prudent to understand the ecological relationships between sea-ice dependent krill and krill predators, as well as the interactions among recovering populations of krill predators that may be forced into competition for a shared food resource.

【 授权许可】

   
2015 Curtice et al.; licensee BioMed Central.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

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