Sex identification of humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, on the wintering grounds of the Mexican Pacific Ocean

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 1771-1774 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Medrano ◽  
M. Salinas ◽  
I. Salas ◽  
P. Ladrón de Guevara ◽  
A. Aguayo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skin Biopsy ◽  
Agonistic Behavior ◽  
Pacific Coast ◽  
Sex Identification ◽  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Mexican Pacific ◽  
Competitive Activity ◽  
Surface Active

The sex of 43 humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) from different social groupings in the Mexican Pacific was identified by a molecular analysis of skin biopsy samples. Of the 18 whales sampled from surface-active groups, 17 were males. Three singers were sampled and identified as males. In two cases, whales interrupting and joining a singer without exhibiting agonistic behavior were identified as females. A higher proportion of males was found in the samples collected at the Revillagigedo Islands, reflecting a greater sampling effort on surface-active groups. Preliminary data showed that along the Mexican Pacific coast, the migratory arrival of males corresponds closely to the timing of competitive activity.

Diversity and distribution of mitochondrial DNA lineages among humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, in the Mexican Pacific Ocean

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (9) ◽  
pp. 1735-1743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Medrano-González ◽  
Anelio Aguayo-Lobo ◽  
Jorge Urbán-Ramírez ◽  
Charles Scott Baker
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Control Region ◽  
North Pacific ◽  
Pacific Coast ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Sequence Length ◽  
Mexican Pacific

We investigated the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diversity of humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, wintering off the Mexican Pacific coast and the Revillagigedo Islands. We amplified and sequenced a variable fragment of the mtDNA control region from skin samples of 65 whales and compared these with published sequences from whales in other regional habitats. Among the Mexican humpback whales, we distinguished eight haplotypes differing by 0.31–3.75% along a consensus sequence length of 320 base pairs. A diagnostic restriction site outside the consensus sequence identified a ninth common haplotype. A phylogenetic reconstruction of the control region sequences revealed two main groupings: an AE group, which is common throughout the North Pacific, and a CF group, which is closely related to haplotypes from the southern hemisphere. We found a significant degree of geographic subdivision in the wintering grounds of the eastern North Pacific. Within Mexico, whales off the Revillagigedo Islands are weakly but significantly differentiated from those of the Mexican Pacific coast. Our data also suggest that mtDNA haplotypes are clinally distributed along the American Pacific coast and we hypothesize that the present distribution of these lineages among humpback whales in the eastern North Pacific is probably associated with weather changes after the last glaciation.

Evidence for the functions of surface-active behaviors in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 313-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ailbhe S. Kavanagh ◽  
Kylie Owen ◽  
Michael J. Williamson ◽  
Simon P. Blomberg ◽  
Michael J. Noad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Surface Active

scholarly journals Occurrence and distribution of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) on the north coast of the State of Bahia, Brazil, 2000–2006

2008 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 667-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos R. Rossi-Santos ◽  
Elitieri S. Neto ◽  
Clarêncio G. Baracho ◽  
Sérgio R. Cipolotti ◽  
Enrico Marcovaldi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The State ◽  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
North Coast ◽  
Brazilian Coast ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Southwest Atlantic ◽  
The North ◽  
Commercial Whaling ◽  
Geographical Position

Abstract Rossi-Santos, M. R., Neto, E. S., Baracho, C. G., Cipolotti, S. R., Marcovaldi, E., and Engel, M. H. 2008. Occurrence and distribution of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) on the north coast of the State of Bahia, Brazil, 2000–2006. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 667–673. The Abrolhos Bank off Brazil is considered the main breeding ground for the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Southwest Atlantic. However, owing to an increase in the occurrence of the species along the north coast of the State of Bahia, it has been suggested that the species is reoccupying that region, which was probably utilized by the whales before commercial whaling. Information is presented on the occurrence and distribution of humpback whales along the north coast of the State of Bahia, with a comparative overview, for the period 2000–2006. Daily research cruises were conducted from July to October, departing from Praia do Forte (13°40′S 38°10′W) and lasting ∼9 h. Data on sampling and sighting effort, and geographical position and composition of groups of humpback whales, were collected on standardized field sheets. In all, 230 surveys were performed, covering some 9740 nautical miles in 1645 h of sampling effort, during which 1626 humpback whales were sighted, including 118 calves. Humpback whales were sighted throughout the study area. Solitary individuals and pairs were the most frequent group composition, 26% and 37% of the observed groups (n = 723), respectively. Depth of water varied from 15 to 1657 m (mean = 62.4; s.d. = 99). The sightings values were grouped into depth classes to ascertain the highest frequencies (∼30%) for the two classes, i.e. between 35.1 and 55 m of water. There was an increase in the encounter rates of humpback whales on the north coast of the State of Bahia between 2000 and 2006, identifying a difference in SPUE [sightings per unit (h) of effort] among years (Kruskal–Wallis H = 30.155, d.f. = 6, p < 0.05). The results support the hypothesis that humpback whales are reoccupying former breeding areas along the Brazilian coast.

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.

Population composition of humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, on Silver Bank, 1984

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
David K. Mattila ◽  
Phillip J. Clapham ◽  
Steven K. Katona ◽  
Gregory S. Stone
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
High Latitude ◽  
Gulf Of Maine ◽  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Breeding Ecology ◽  
Population Composition ◽  
Winter Range ◽  
The North ◽  
Surface Active

Between 14 February and 19 March 1984, 19 d were spent observing humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, on Silver Bank. In total, 317 whales were individually identified from photographs of ventral fluke patterns. Comparison of these photographs with the North Atlantic humpback whale catalogue revealed that 97 of the whales had previously been observed in other areas. Matches were made with all of the major known high-latitude feeding grounds: Greenland (6), Newfoundland – Labrador (43), the Gulf of St. Lawrence (7), and the Gulf of Maine (12). Matches were also made with habitats in the winter range of this population: Bermuda (1), Silver Bank in other years (26), Puerto Rico (18), Virgin Bank (1), and Anguilla Bank (1). Analysis of matches suggests that whales from the various high-latitude feeding stocks mix randomly on Silver Bank. Seven surface-active groups contained whales from different high-latitude feeding stocks, providing the strongest evidence to date for genetic mixing among these stocks. The behavior and composition of surface-active groups are discussed. Overall, the number of whales, calves, and surface-active groups observed during this study confirms the apparently singular importance of Silver Bank to the breeding ecology of western North Atlantic humpback whales.

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