Whale-watching noise effects on the behavior of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Brazilian breeding ground

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos R. Rossi-Santos
Keyword(s):  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Breeding Ground ◽  
Whale Watching ◽  
Noise Effects

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Hervey Bay, Queensland: behaviour and responses to whale-watching vessels

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (7) ◽  
pp. 1290-1299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Corkeron
Keyword(s):  
Multidimensional Scaling ◽  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Breeding Ground ◽  
Whale Watching ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Continuous Sampling ◽  
Commercial Use ◽  
Hybrid Multidimensional Scaling

The effects of the presence of vessels on the behaviour of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) was studied in Hervey Bay, Queensland, where southward-migrating whales are the focus of a commercial whale-watching industry. The behaviour of whales was observed from a small yacht under sail. Rates of occurrence of units of behaviour for entire pods were obtained from continuous sampling of pods. Pods without calves showed lower rates of behaviour generally when vessels were within 300 m of them. Pods both with and without calves were more likely to dive rather than slip under when vessels were within 300 m. Hybrid multidimensional scaling of rates of behaviours of pods indicated differences between suites of behaviours exhibited by pods when vessels were within 300 m of them and when they were not. Classification of the patterns of occurrence of behaviours demonstrated that for pods both with and without calves, different units of behaviour tended to occur together when vessels were within 300 m and when they were not. Whale watching offers a nonlethal commercial use of whales, but in Hervey Bay, whale watching affects the behaviour of whales, which, although migrating, can be involved in breeding ground activities. Whether the short-term behavioural changes described here are accompanied by longer term avoidance of Hervey Bay by humpback whales as they migrate south remains to be determined.

Effects of whale watching on the activity budgets of humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781), on a feeding ground

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 810-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacopo Di Clemente ◽  
Fredrik Christiansen ◽  
Enrico Pirotta ◽  
Dave Steckler ◽  
Magnus Wahlberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Whale Watching ◽  
Activity Budgets ◽  
Feeding Ground

Behavioral responses of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) to whale-watching vessels on the southeastern coast of Australia

2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasey A. Stamation ◽  
David B. Croft ◽  
Peter D. Shaughnessy ◽  
Kelly A. Waples ◽  
Sue V. Briggs
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Whale Watching ◽  
Southeastern Coast

scholarly journals Skeletal abnormalities in humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae stranded in the Brazilian breeding ground

2012 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
KR Groch ◽  
MCC Marcondes ◽  
AC Colosio ◽  
JL Catão-Dias
Keyword(s):  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Breeding Ground ◽  
Skeletal Abnormalities

scholarly journals Tourist Knowledge, Pro-Conservation Intentions, and Tourist Concern for the Impacts of Whale-Watching in Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susana Cárdenas ◽  
María Virginia Gabela-Flores ◽  
Arielle Amrein ◽  
Katie Surrey ◽  
Leah R. Gerber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Activity ◽  
Coastal Areas ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Breeding Ground ◽  
Whale Watching ◽  
Tour Guides ◽  
Conservation Attitudes ◽  
Conservation Awareness ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Excessive Number

Whale watching has become an important economic activity for many coastal areas where whales aggregate at certain times of year. Las Perlas Archipelago in Panama is a breeding ground for humpback whales, where the numbers of both visitors and tour operators have increased in recent years with little compliance and enforcement of regulations. Nevertheless, there is potential to improve whale-watching management at this site and its use as a tool for education and conservation awareness. Our objective was to assess tourist knowledge, perceptions and pro-conservation attitudes related to whale watching and how this activity is managed in Las Perlas. One hundred and eleven tourists were surveyed in the summer of 2019 after they participated in whale−watching tours. Overall, respondents had little knowledge about whales and their conservation before a whale-watching trip. However, after the excursion, tourists felt they had learned more about whale biology and the regulations for whale-watching. Trip satisfaction after whale-watching activities was higher when whale behaviors, including breaching and tail slaps, were observed. Respondents expressed low satisfaction when there was an excessive number of boats around a whale-sighting. Concern for lack of compliance seemed to be associated with whale-watching operations that onboard tour guides. This study highlights the importance of whale watching as a tool for promoting whale conservation through education and the need to improve the enforcement of existing regulations and visitor monitoring to reduce potential negative impacts of whale-watching.

scholarly journals Intensive feeding of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the breeding ground of Banderas Bay, Mexico

10.5597/00251 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-33
Author(s):  
Astrid Frisch-Jordán ◽  
Nicola Ransome ◽  
Oscar Aranda-Mena ◽  
Fernando Romo-Sirvent
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Activity ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Breeding Ground ◽  
Mexican Pacific ◽  
The North ◽  
Stenella Attenuata ◽  
The North Pacific

Banderas Bay, located in the Mexican Pacific, is a breeding/calving ground for the North Pacific stock of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) during the winter.  While sporadic registers of humpback whales feeding on their mating grounds exist, this is the first occasion where feeding activity was observed intensively and extensively on a breeding ground.  Between 19 December 2011 and 6 March 2012, 26 such occurrences were registered in Banderas Bay, along the mainland pacific coast.  On five occasions, groups of 20 or more individuals were recorded feeding. They were feeding over and under the surface using lunging and gulping techniques.  On several occasions humpbacks were observed feeding alongside Bryde´s whales (Balaenoptera edeni), Pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata) and Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).  Two different samples of fish at two different feeding sites were taken and the fish identifications showed these were Pacific anchovies (Cetengraulis mysticetus).  Among the 26 sightings, nine different species of birds were registered feeding in the same area as the humpback whales.  The number of whales feeding over an extended period of time in their breeding ground could be an indicator that there was not enough food in their feeding grounds, but the possibility that they might just be taking advantage of good food availability is also possible.

scholarly journals Fine-scale habitat use by humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Zavora Bay, Mozambique

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-147
Author(s):  
Charlotte D. Van Driessche ◽  
Nakia Cullain ◽  
Yara Tibiriçá ◽  
Ian O'Connor
Keyword(s):  
Observation Point ◽  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Breeding Ground ◽  
East African ◽  
East African Coast ◽  
African Coast ◽  
Pair Separation ◽  
Commercial Whaling ◽  
Population Numbers

Little is known about the humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) of the East-African Coast genetic sub-unit (C1). With an estimated population size of 7000 whales, they demonstrate the resilience of the species after commercial whaling caused population numbers to decline drastically. Zavora Bay, Mozambique offers an ideal observation point of the passage of the whales during their annual migration towards the breeding ground of southern Africa and serves as an operating base to monitor this population. This study aimed at identifying the importance of Zavora Bay as part of this breeding ground and the core regions for humpback whale use within the study area. Results showed the waters off the coast of Zavora are actively used for breeding and do not merely serve as passage towards the wintering habitats. A mother-calf pair separation with a preference for shallower waters closer to shore was observed. Besides depth and distance to shore, slope also proved to have a significant influence on the distribution of adult humpback whales. Increased survey effort and more detailed investigation of the threats to humpback whales within the waters of Zavora are recommended.

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