New haplotypes found in stranded long‐finned pilot whales ( Globicephala melas ) in the eastern North Atlantic and adjacent waters

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel J. Ball ◽  
Ashleigh Kitchiner ◽  
Nicholas J. Davison ◽  
Andrew Brownlow ◽  
Simon Berrow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Globicephala Melas ◽  
Pilot Whales ◽  
Eastern North Atlantic

scholarly journals Estimates of the relative abundance of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) in the Northeast Atlantic from 1987 to 2015 indicate no long-term trends

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel G. Pike ◽  
Thorvaldur Gunnlaugsson ◽  
Geneviève Desportes ◽  
Bjarni Mikkelsen ◽  
Gísli A. Vikingsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relative Abundance ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Distance Sampling ◽  
Field Methods ◽  
Pilot Whale ◽  
Globicephala Melas ◽  
The North ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
Pilot Whales ◽  
Annual Distribution

North Atlantic Sightings Surveys (NASS) and associated surveys, covering a large but variable portion of the North Atlantic, were conducted in 1987, 1989, 1995, 2001, 2007 and 2015. Previous estimates of long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) abundance, derived using conventional distance sampling (CDS), are not directly comparable to one another because of differing survey coverage, field methods and, in the case of the 1989 NASS, different survey timing. CDS was used to develop indices of relative abundance to determine if pilot whale abundance has changed over the 28-year period from 1987 to 2015. The varying spatial coverage of the surveys is accommodated by delineating common regions that were covered by: i) all 6 surveys, and ii) the 3 largest surveys (1989, 1995, and 2007). These “Index Regions” were divided into East and West subregions, and post-stratification was used to obtain abundance estimates for these index areas only. Estimates are provided using the sightings from the combined platforms for surveys that used double platforms or the primary platform only.Total abundance in the Index Regions, uncorrected for perception or availability biases, ranged from 54,264 (CV=0.48) in 2001 to 253,109 (CV=0.43) in 2015. There was no significant trend in the numbers of individuals or groups in either the 6 or 3 Survey Index Regions, and no consistent trend over the period. Power analyses indicate that negative annual growth rates of -3% to -5% would have been detectible over the entire period. The Index Regions comprise only a portion of the summer range of the species and changes in annual distribution clearly affect the results. Operational changes to the surveys, particularly in defining pilot whale groups, may also have introduced biases. Recommendations for future monitoring of the long-finned pilot whale population are provided.

scholarly journals Feeding ecology of long-finned pilot whales Globicephala melas in the western North Atlantic

1997 ◽  
Vol 148 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
DP Gannon ◽  
AJ Read ◽  
JE Craddock ◽  
KM Fristrup ◽  
JR Nicolas
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Globicephala Melas ◽  
Pilot Whales

High thresholds for avoidance of sonar by free-ranging long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas)

2014 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 165-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Antunes ◽  
P.H. Kvadsheim ◽  
F.P.A. Lam ◽  
P.L. Tyack ◽  
L. Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Globicephala Melas ◽  
Pilot Whales ◽  
Free Ranging

Temperature, Salinity and Plankton in the Eastern North Atlantic and Coastal Waters of Britain, 1957.: I. The Characterisation and Distribution of Surface Waters

1963 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 789-826 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. McK. Bary
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
English Channel ◽  
Oceanic Water ◽  
Climatic Fluctuations ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Sea ◽  
Eastern North Atlantic

Monthly temperature-salinity diagrams for 1957 have demonstrated that three surface oceanic "water bodies" were consistently present in the eastern North Atlantic; two are regarded as modified North Atlantic Central water which give rise to the third by mixing. As well in the oceanic areas, large and small, high or low salinity patches of water were common. Effects of seasonal climatic fluctuations differed in the several oceanic water bodies. In coastal waters, differences in properties and in seasonal and annual cycles of the properties distinguish the waters from the North Sea, English Channel and the western entrance to the Channel.The geographic distributions of the oceanic waters are consistent with "northern" and "southern" water bodies mixing to form a "transitional" water. Within this distribution there are short-term changes in boundaries and long-term (seasonal) changes in size of the water bodies.Water in the western approaches to the English Channel appeared to be influenced chiefly by the mixed, oceanic transitional water; oceanic influences in the North Sea appear to have been from northern and transitional waters.

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.

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