scholarly journals Evidence for ship noise impacts on humpback whale foraging behaviour

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 20160005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah B. Blair ◽  
Nathan D. Merchant ◽  
Ari S. Friedlaender ◽  
David N. Wiley ◽  
Susan E. Parks
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Mixed Models ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Acoustic Environment ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Archival Tags ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
Shipping Traffic ◽  
Atlantic Coastal

Noise from shipping activity in North Atlantic coastal waters has been steadily increasing and is an area of growing conservation concern, as it has the potential to disrupt the behaviour of marine organisms. This study examines the impacts of ship noise on bottom foraging humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) in the western North Atlantic . Data were collected from 10 foraging whales using non-invasive archival tags that simultaneously recorded underwater movements and the acoustic environment at the whale. Using mixed models, we assess the effects of ship noise on seven parameters of their feeding behaviours. Independent variables included the presence or absence of ship noise and the received level of ship noise at the whale. We found significant effects on foraging, including slower descent rates and fewer side-roll feeding events per dive with increasing ship noise. During 5 of 18 ship passages, dives without side-rolls were observed. These findings indicate that humpback whales on Stellwagen Bank, an area with chronically elevated levels of shipping traffic, significantly change foraging activity when exposed to high levels of ship noise. This measureable reduction in within-dive foraging effort of individual whales could potentially lead to population-level impacts of shipping noise on baleen whale foraging success.

Population-level lateralized feeding behaviour in North Atlantic humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae

2011 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 901-909 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Canning ◽  
Danielle Crain ◽  
T. Scott Eaton ◽  
Kathryn Nuessly ◽  
Ari Friedlaender ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales

Impactor aerosol size distributions at two north Atlantic coastal sites

2000 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 372-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.G. Allen ◽  
R.M. Harrison ◽  
J.D. James ◽  
B.M. Davison ◽  
L. Robertson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Atlantic Coastal

A longitudinal study of humpback whales in Irish waters

2015 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 877-883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conor Ryan ◽  
Pádraig Whooley ◽  
Simon D. Berrow ◽  
Colin Barnes ◽  
Nick Massett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Migratory Species ◽  
The Public ◽  
Photo Identification ◽  
The North ◽  
Breeding Grounds ◽  
Eastern North Atlantic

Knowledge on the ecology of humpback whales in the eastern North Atlantic is lacking by comparison with most other ocean basins. Humpback whales were historically over-exploited in the region and are still found in low relative abundances. This, coupled with their large range makes them difficult to study. With the aim of informing more effective conservation measures in Ireland, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group began recording sightings and images suitable for photo-identification of humpback whales from Irish waters in 1999. Validated records submitted by members of the public and data from dedicated surveys were analysed to form a longitudinal study of individually recognizable humpback whales. The distribution, relative abundance and seasonality of humpback whale sighting records are presented, revealing discrete important areas for humpback whales in Irish coastal waters. An annual easterly movement of humpback whales along the southern coast of Ireland is documented, mirroring that of their preferred prey: herring and sprat. Photo-identification images were compared with others collected throughout the North Atlantic (N = 8016), resulting in matches of two individuals between Ireland and Iceland, Norway and the Netherlands but no matches to known breeding grounds (Cape Verde and West Indies). This study demonstrates that combining public records with dedicated survey data is an effective approach to studying low-density, threatened migratory species over temporal and spatial scales that are relevant to conservation and management.

scholarly journals Close-Range Photogrammetry and Infrared Imaging for Non-Invasive Honeybee Hive Population Assessment

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis López-Fernández ◽  
Susana Lagüela ◽  
Pablo Rodríguez-Gonzálvez ◽  
José Martín-Jiménez ◽  
Diego González-Aguilera
Keyword(s):  
Computer Vision ◽  
Infrared Imaging ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Close Range Photogrammetry ◽  
3D Geometry ◽  
Thermographic Imaging ◽  
Close Range ◽  
Bee Colonies

Close-range photogrammetry and thermographic imaging techniques are used for the acquisition of all the data needed for the non-invasive assessment of a honeybee hive population. Temperature values complemented with precise 3D geometry generated using novel close-range photogrammetric and computer vision algorithms are used for the computation of the inner beehive temperature at each point of its surface. The methodology was validated through its application to three reference beehives with different population levels. The temperatures reached by the exterior surfaces of the hives showed a direct correlation with the population level. In addition, the knowledge of the 3D reality of the hives and the position of each temperature value allowed the positioning of the bee colonies without the need to open the hives. This way, the state of honeybee hives regarding the growth of population can be estimated without disturbing its natural development.

scholarly journals Genetic Structure and Gene Flow in Eastern Grey Kangaroos in an Isolated Conservation Reserve

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 570
Author(s):  
Miriam A. Zemanova ◽  
Daniel Ramp
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Clustering Algorithm ◽  
Population Control ◽  
Current Conservation ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Conservation Property ◽  
Genetic Sampling ◽  
Grey Kangaroo ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
Genetic Assessment

Dispersal is a key process for population persistence, particularly in fragmented landscapes. Connectivity between habitat fragments can be easily estimated by quantifying gene flow among subpopulations. However, the focus in ecological research has been on endangered species, typically excluding species that are not of current conservation concern. Consequently, our current understanding of the behaviour and persistence of many species is incomplete. A case in point is the eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), an Australian herbivore that is subjected to considerable harvesting and population control efforts. In this study, we used non-invasive genetic sampling of eastern grey kangaroos within and outside of the Mourachan Conservation Property to assess functional connectivity. In total, we genotyped 232 samples collected from 17 locations at 20 microsatellite loci. The clustering algorithm indicated the presence of two clusters, with some overlap between the groups within and outside of the reserve. This genetic assessment should be repeated in 10–15 years to observe changes in population structure and gene flow over time, monitoring the potential impact of the planned exclusion fencing around the reserve.

scholarly journals More of the same: allopatric humpback whale populations share acoustic repertoire

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e5365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle E.H. Fournet ◽  
Lauren Jacobsen ◽  
Christine M. Gabriele ◽  
David K. Mellinger ◽  
Holger Klinck
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
North Atlantic Ocean ◽  
North Pacific Ocean ◽  
Humpback Whale ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Massachusetts Bay ◽  
Baleen Whale ◽  
Southeast Alaska ◽  
Allopatric Populations ◽  
Strong Contrast

Background Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are a widespread, vocal baleen whale best known for producing song, a complex, repetitive, geographically distinct acoustic signal sung by males, predominantly in a breeding context. Humpback whales worldwide also produce non-song vocalizations (“calls”) throughout their migratory range, some of which are stable across generations. Methods We looked for evidence that temporally stable call types are shared by two allopatric humpback whale populations while on their northern hemisphere foraging grounds in order to test the hypothesis that some calls, in strong contrast to song, are innate within the humpback whale acoustic repertoire. Results Despite being geographically and genetically distinct populations, humpback whales in Southeast Alaska (North Pacific Ocean) share at least five call types with conspecifics in Massachusetts Bay (North Atlantic Ocean). Discussion This study is the first to identify call types shared by allopatric populations, and provides evidence that some call types may be innate.

scholarly journals Sea Mayweed Tripleurospermum maritimum and Scentless Mayweed T. inodorum (Asteraceae) intermediates in Orkney

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
John Crossley ◽  
Christopher A. Skilbeck
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Population Level ◽  
North Atlantic Region ◽  
Atlantic Region ◽  
Orkney Islands ◽  
Far North ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic

This article describes a study of Tripleurospermum maritimum (L.) W.D.J. Koch and T. inodorum (L.) Sch. Bip. (Asteraceae) in the Orkney Islands (v.c.111), the results of which suggest that intermediates between these taxa may be rather common, and that T. maritimum subsp. nigriceps and subsp. maritimum are both involved, the former more frequently. Obviously this results in a complex taxonomic situation, evidently not confined to Orkney in the far north. Key identifying characters of the taxa are systematically examined and guidance offered on determining hybrids using a population level approach. The taxonomic complexities of these northern populations are discussed, with regard in particular to the identity of T. inodorum occurring there and the place of T. maritimum subsp. nigrescens in the forms and subspecies of T. maritimum found in the north Atlantic region.

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