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Sei whale movements and behaviour in the North Atlantic inferred from satellite telemetry

2014; Inter-Research; Volume: 26; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3354/esr00630

1863-5407

Rui Prieto, Mónica A. Silva, GT Waring, João M. Gonçalves,

Marine and fisheries research

ESR Endangered Species Research Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsSpecials ESR 26:103-113 (2014) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00630 Sei whale movements and behaviour in the North Atlantic inferred from satellite telemetry Rui Prieto1,*, Mónica A. Silva1,2, Gordon T. Waring3, João M. A. Gonçalves1 1Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas, IMAR and LARSyS Associated Laboratory, Universidade dos Açores, 9901-862 Horta, Portugal 2Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543-1049, USA 3NOAA Fisheries, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543-1026, USA *Corresponding author: rprieto@uac.pt ABSTRACT: The stock structure of the sei whale Balaenoptera borealis in the North Atlantic is unknown, despite years of commercial hunting. New and up-to-date data on distribution and movements are essential for the creation of plausible hypotheses about the stock structure of this species. Between 2008 and 2009 satellite tracks of 8 sei whales were obtained, 7 during spring and 1 in late September. Using a hierarchical switching state-space model we investigated the movements, behaviour and the role of distinct areas in their life history. Two distinct phases corresponding to migratory and foraging movements were identified. A migratory corridor between the Azores and the Labrador Sea is clearly identifiable from the data. Behaviour consistent with foraging was observed frequently in the Labrador Sea, showing that it constitutes an important feeding ground. A link between the Labrador Sea and other feeding grounds to the east is deemed likely. The data also support a discrete feeding ground in the Gulf of Maine and off Nova Scotia. A possible link between the feeding grounds in the Labrador Sea and wintering grounds off northwestern Africa is proposed. KEY WORDS: Migration · Satellite tracking · Marine mammal · Stock structure · Labrador Sea · Azores · Whale ecology · Sei whale Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Prieto R, Silva MA, Waring GT, Gonçalves JMA (2014) Sei whale movements and behaviour in the North Atlantic inferred from satellite telemetry. Endang Species Res 26:103-113. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00630 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in ESR Vol. 26, No. 2. Online publication date: December 01, 2014 Print ISSN: 1863-5407; Online ISSN: 1613-4796 Copyright © 2014 Inter-Research.