Immature euphausiids do not appear to be prey for humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) during spring and summer in Southeast Alaska

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 677-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Szabo
Keyword(s):  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Southeast Alaska

Possible Sexing Technique for Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)

1980 ◽  
Vol 37 (12) ◽  
pp. 2362-2364 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. P. Jurasz ◽  
D. McSweeney ◽  
C. M. Jurasz
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Feature ◽  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Pregnant Female ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Reasonable Accuracy ◽  
Southeast Alaska ◽  
Dorsal Fin ◽  
Breeding Grounds

By comparing photographs of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) photographed at the peak of their arch during a dive, we found some to be smooth and others to be scalloped middorsally caudal to the dorsal fin. Out of 410 photographs taken in southeast Alaska and Hawaii, 66% were found to be smooth and 34% scalloped. All females with calves were smooth. One pregnant female was smooth and only one female who was pregnant was slightly scalloped. One known male was scalloped and one "singer" on the Hawaiian breeding grounds was scalloped. We suggest that the smoothness or scalloping of this region is a morphological feature and can be used with reasonable accuracy to determine sex in humpback whales.Key words: humpback whales, morphology, sex

Foraging dive patterns of humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, in southeast Alaska: a cost–benefit analysis

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (11) ◽  
pp. 2432-2441 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Ford Dolphin
Keyword(s):  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Dominant Role ◽  
Accurate Determination ◽  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Energy Costs ◽  
Southeast Alaska ◽  
Prey Patch ◽  
Underwater Cameras ◽  
Time And Energy

The foraging behavior of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) summering in southeast Alaska was studied from 1979 to 1984 using surface observations, a 120-kHz echo sounder, and remotely operated underwater cameras. Considerations of foraging costs as well as profits appear to play a dominant role in determining feeding dive patterns of the whales. The energy costs of diving, based on observed blow rates, estimated tidal volume, and O2 extraction efficiency, have previously been shown to increase with increasing depth of dive during foraging episodes. Time spent diving into and returning from a prey patch, and time spent at the surface recovering from a dive represent the time costs of foraging. The percentage of time available for actual capture of prey decreased with increasing depth of dive. Thus, time and energy costs were highly correlated with the depth of the target prey patch. In conjunction with acoustic scans, the underwater cameras made possible the accurate determination of potential prey patch depths, densities, and vertical extent. Prey patches were ranked using a derived weighted density value and associated time and energy expenditure required of the whales to feed upon the patch (viz., gain–cost representation). Foraging models incorporating prey patch density value and time and energy costs of diving resulted in the best fit when compared with observed foraging patterns of the humpback whales.

Observations on the migrations of North Pacific humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 308-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
James D. Darling ◽  
Daniel J. McSweeney
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
North Pacific ◽  
Ventral Side ◽  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Prince William Sound ◽  
White Pigment ◽  
Southeast Alaska ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Northeast Pacific

Migratory destinations of northeast Pacific humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) were determined by repeat sightings of photographically identified individuals, using the black and white pigment patterns on the ventral side of the flukes. Individuals identified between 1975 and 1982 included 1056 in Hawaii, 420 in southeast Alaska, 54 in Prince William Sound, Alaska, 8 in British Columbia, and 12 in the Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico. Of these, 51 were found in Hawaii and southeast Alaska, 8 in Hawaii and Prince William Sound, 1 in Hawaii and British Columbia, and 1 in Mexico and Hawaii. Some travelled for four, five, and six successive seasons between Hawaii and southeast Alaska. One whale was found in British Columbia one summer and in southeast Alaska the next; the same individuals were commonly found off both Kona, Hawaii, and West Maui in winter. The study suggests that separate summer feeding areas may exist in the northeast Pacific where individuals prefer to feed. Migratory connections suggest that all humpbacks in the eastern North Pacific are of the same stock.

Non-lethal entanglement of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in fishing gear in northern Southeast Alaska

2009 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 452-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet L. Neilson ◽  
Janice M. Straley ◽  
Christine M. Gabriele ◽  
Susan Hills
Keyword(s):  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Fishing Gear ◽  
Southeast Alaska

Steroid hormone profiles and body conditions of migrating male humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)

2021 ◽  
Vol 313 ◽  
pp. 113888
Author(s):  
Greta Dalle Luche ◽  
Ashley S.P. Boggs ◽  
John R. Kucklick ◽  
Darryl W. Hawker ◽  
Jillian H. Wisse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Steroid Hormone ◽  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales

Between-year synchrony in migratory timing of individual humpback whales,Megaptera novaeangliae

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 228-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Burns ◽  
Lyndon Brooks ◽  
Phil Clapham ◽  
Peter Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Migratory Timing
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