Model-based estimates of right whale habitat use in the Gulf of Maine

Marine Ecology Progress Series

Moira W. Brown¹  Daniel E. Pendleton¹  Bruce C. Monger¹  Charles A. Mayo¹  Timothy V. N. Cole¹  Andrew J. Pershing¹  Linda A. Woodard¹  Nicholas R. Record¹  Robert D. Kenney¹ 

关键词: Eubalaena glacialis;    Calanus finmarchicus;    Gulf of Maine;    Population dynamics;    Model;   

DOI  :  10.3354/meps07829

学科分类：海洋学与技术

来源: Inter-Research

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACT: Balancing human uses of the marine environment with the recovery of protected species requires accurate information on when and where species of interest are likely to be present. Here, we describe a system that can produce useful estimates of right whale Eubalaena glacialis presence and abundance on their feeding grounds in the Gulf of Maine. The foundation of our system is a coupled physical–biological model of the copepod Calanus finmarchicus, the preferred prey of right whales. From the modeled prey densities, we can estimate when whales will appear in the Great South Channel feeding ground. Based on our experience with the system, we consider how the relationship between right whales and copepods changes across spatial scales. The scale-dependent relationship between whales and copepods provides insight into how to improve future estimates of the distribution of right whales and other pelagic predators.

【 授权许可】

Unknown