Environmental characteristics of North Atlantic right and fin whale habitat in the lower Bay of Fundy, Canada

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas H. Woodley ◽  
David E. Gaskin
Keyword(s):  
Prey Species ◽  
Bottom Topography ◽  
Clupea Harengus ◽  
Calanus Finmarchicus ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Fin Whale ◽  
Physical Conditions ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Right Whales ◽  
Fin Whales

Characteristics of right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) and fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) habitat in the lower Bay of Fundy were identified by quantifying physical and biological habitat variables and comparing them to the distribution of whales during the summer and autumn of 1989. Right whales were generally distributed over the Grand Manan Basin, where the bottom topography is relatively flat and the water column was stratified. Calanus finmarchicus, the principal prey species of right whales, was the predominant copepod taken in Zooplankton hauls, and the depth-averaged density (mean 1139/m3) was significantly greater where right whales were present. Fin whales were distributed mainly in shallower areas with high topographic variation that were likely well mixed or contained frontal interfaces between mixed and stratified waters. Herring (Clupea harengus) and euphausiids, both known prey of fin whales, were relatively abundant on echosounder traces in areas where fin whales were present. The habitats of both whale species were primarily characterized by high densities of principal prey species and the physical conditions that facilitate the accumulation of these prey.

The distribution of right whales and Zooplankton in the Bay of Fundy, Canada

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (6) ◽  
pp. 1411-1420 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. D. Murison ◽  
D. E. Gaskin
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Maine ◽  
Calanus Finmarchicus ◽  
Eubalaena Glacialis ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Scotian Shelf ◽  
Transition Zones ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Right Whales ◽  
Two Peaks ◽  
Copepod Biomass

Temperature, salinity, density of Zooplankton patches, and the abundance of right whales (Eubalaena glacialis glacialis) were measured concurrently during summer and autumn of 1983 and 1984 over the Grand Manan Basin, outer Bay of Fundy. Right whales appeared to exploit patches of copepods at densities greater than about 820/m3 (170 mg m−3). Patches were composed primarily of stage V Calanus finmarchicus at depths ≥ 100 m during daylight hours. Patch densities were similar in 1983 and 1984. Potential right whale feeding areas increased in extent from late July to October, with at least two peaks of copepod biomass occurring in 1984. Right whales appear to exploit euphausiid patches in the bay only incidentally; the whales departed in 1984 when euphausiid biomass was at a maximum. The topography of the basin, prevailing summer currents, and orientation of transition zones from mixed to stratified water all combine to facilitate accumulation of copepods from the Scotian Shelf and Gulf of Maine in the central lower Bay of Fundy. This area provides an important feeding ground for this stenophagous whale species.

Habitat partitioning and the influence of benthic topography and oceanography on the distribution of fin and minke whales in the Bay of Fundy, Canada

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon N. Ingram ◽  
Laura Walshe ◽  
Dave Johnston ◽  
Emer Rogan
Keyword(s):  
Linear Relationship ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Generalized Additive Models ◽  
Bottom Topography ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Fin Whale ◽  
Minke Whales ◽  
Fin Whales

We collected data on the distribution of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) and minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in the Bay of Fundy, Canada from a whale-watching vessel during commercial tours between July and September 2002. A single observer recorded the positions, species, numbers and surface activity of whales encountered during boat tours. We controlled for biased search effort by calculating sightings rates for both species in cells measuring 2′ latitude by 2′ longitude throughout the study area. Sightings rates were calculated by dividing the number of sightings of fin and minke whales in each cell by the number of visits by the tour boat to that cell. We used generalized additive models and generalized linear models to examine the influence of benthic topography on whale distribution patterns. Models showed a non-linear relationship for minke whale sighting rates with increasing benthic slopes and a linear relationship for minke and fin whale sightings rates with increasing water depth. Sightings of minkes were concentrated in areas subject to tidal wakes near the northern tips of Grand Manan and Campobello Island. Fin whales were also found off the northern tip of Grand Manan but sighting rates for this species were highest in areas with less benthic sloping topography adjacent to the relatively deep Owen Basin. Foraging was recorded during 87% of all whale encounters and our results indicate that whale distribution in this area is likely to be influenced by depth, bottom topography and fine scale oceanographic features that facilitate foraging.

Fishing-gear threat to right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) in Canadian waters and the risk of lethal entanglement

2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (12) ◽  
pp. 2174-2193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelia S.M. Vanderlaan ◽  
R. Kent Smedbol ◽  
Christopher T. Taggart
Keyword(s):  
Relative Risk ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Eubalaena Glacialis ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Commercial Fishing ◽  
Fishing Gear ◽  
Critical Habitat ◽  
North Atlantic Right Whale ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Right Whales

Commercial fishing gear can potentially entangle any whale, and this is especially true for the endangered North Atlantic right whale ( Eubalaena glacialis ), for which entanglement is second only to vessel strike as being responsible for documented right whale deaths. We use right whale survey data and Canadian fishing-gear deployment data to estimate the relative threat of gear entanglement in a Scotia–Fundy study area and the relative risk of lethal entanglement in the Bay of Fundy and on Roseway Basin, Scotian Shelf, where Critical Habitat has been legislated. We focus on groundfish and pelagic hook-and-line; groundfish gillnet; and crab-, hagfish-, and inshore and offshore lobster-trap gear. Our analyses demonstrate that groundfish hook-and-line gear poses the greatest threat to right whales among the seven gear types analysed during the summer-resident period in Critical Habitat and that gear from the lobster fisheries poses the greatest threat during the spring and autumn periods when whales are migrating to and from Critical Habitat. We suggest that area-specific seasonal closures of some fisheries would reduce threat and risk to whales without unduly compromising fishing interests.

scholarly journals Feeding Hotspots and Distribution of Fin and Humpback Whales in the Norwegian Sea From 2013 to 2018

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunniva Løviknes ◽  
Knut H. Jensen ◽  
Bjørn A. Krafft ◽  
Valantine Anthonypillai ◽  
Leif Nøttestad
Keyword(s):  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Humpback Whale ◽  
Clupea Harengus ◽  
Fish Distribution ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Impact Factors ◽  
Shelf Area ◽  
Fin Whale ◽  
Norwegian Sea ◽  
Fin Whales

Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are commonly found in the Norwegian Sea during the summer months. Records from around 1995 to 2004 show that their distribution patterns were mainly associated with those of macro-zooplankton. More recent studies conducted from 2009 to 2012 demonstrate marked shifts, with fin whale distribution related to pelagic fish distribution, decreasing densities of humpbacks, and increased densities of toothed whales. During the same period, historically large abundances of pelagic planktivorous fish in the Norwegian Sea were reported. The goals of this study were to examine the summer distribution of fin and humpback whales from 2013 to 2018 and to assess the potential association between distribution and environmental impact factors. Results suggest a pronounced northerly shift in distribution for both species, a feeding hotspot for fin whales at the shelf area between Svalbard and Norway, and one near Bear Island for humpback whales. Fin whale distribution was associated with that of blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) and capelin (Mallotus villosus), whereas humpback whale distribution was associated with that of euphausiids (Meganyctiphanes norvegica, Thysanoessa longicaudata, and Thysanoessa inermis), capelin, and herring (Clupea harengus). However, a significant negative spatial correlation was found between whale occurrence and the widely expanding population of northeast Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus). The results of this study suggest that the prey composition of fin and humpback whales in recent years contain a large proportion of fish. The apparent northerly shift in the distribution of these whale species is largely determined by the availability of prey, but it likely is also impacted by direct or indirect interspecific interactions, especially with killer whales (Orcinus orca). Such large-scale pronounced changes in distribution seem to confirm a high degree of plasticity in fin and humpback whale feeding in the Norwegian Sea.

Surface foraging behaviour of the North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis, and associated zooplankton characteristics

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (10) ◽  
pp. 2214-2220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles A. Mayo ◽  
Marilyn K. Marx
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Calanus Finmarchicus ◽  
Cape Cod ◽  
North Atlantic Right Whale ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
The North ◽  
Cape Cod Bay ◽  
Zooplankton Density ◽  
Right Whales

Right whales in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts, were studied to determine the relationship between their surface feeding behaviour and the density and composition of their planktonic prey. The swimming path characteristics of whales feeding, socializing, and travelling were compared. Zooplankton samples collected in the feeding path were contrasted with those from areas where whales were not present. Surface prey patches where right whales fed were dominated by Calanus finmarchicus (21 samples), Pseudocalanus minutus (n = 13), Centropages sp. (n = 3), and larval barnacles (n = 2). The zooplankton density in the feeding path of the whales tested significantly higher (Mann–Whitney U-test, P < 0.001) than at stations where whales were not present (mean total densities were 6.54 × 103 (SE = 1.03 × 103) and 0.87 × 103 (SE = 0.19 × 103) organisms/m3, respectively). Feeding was rarely observed in locations where the total zooplankton density was less than 1000 organisms/m3. The rate of change of direction in the feeding path (mean 19.3°/10 m of path) was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than for paths of whales travelling (mean 5.3°/10 m of path), reflecting area-restricted foraging behaviour.

Stomach contents of harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena (L.), from the Bay of Fundy

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (9) ◽  
pp. 2140-2146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheri A. Recchia ◽  
Andrew J. Read
Keyword(s):  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Caloric Intake ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Clupea Harengus ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Total Caloric Intake

We examined contents from stomachs of 127 harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) caught in groundfish gill nets in the western Bay of Fundy during June to September, 1985–1987. Relative importance of prey species was assessed using both numerical and caloric measures. Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) was the most important prey species, contributing 80% of the total caloric intake, with some spatial and temporal variation. Silver hake (Merluccius bilinearis) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) were also important, but together comprised only 17% of the total caloric intake. No differences were found in relative prey importance between adult porpoises of different reproductive conditions, but lactating females ingested more fish and had a significantly higher total caloric intake than nonlactating females or mature males. The diet of porpoises collected from the same area in 1969–1972 consisted of a higher proportion of pelagic prey species and a lower proportion of demersal species. This may be attributed to differences in capture method, as the earlier sample of porpoises was collected at the surface, while the present animals were captured at depths of 45–100 m.

scholarly journals Anomalous 1992 spring and summer right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) distributions in the Gulf of Maine

2020 ◽  
pp. 209-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert D. Kenney
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Maine ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Calanus Finmarchicus ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
First Year ◽  
Eubalaena Glacialis ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Right Whales

No right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) were sighted during aerial surveys in May-July 1992 in the Great South Channel region of thesouthwestern Gulf of Maine. This was the first year that spring surveys failed to detect right whales in this region. During the latespring/early summer season when right whales would normally be expected in the Great South Channel, a few were sighted in the centralGulf of Maine, none were found in their usual late summer/early autumn feeding areas near Nova Scotia and a few were seen inMassachusetts Bay. The absence of right whales in the Great South Channel in 1992 can be attributed to a shift in the regional zooplanktoncommunity. The usual spring zooplankton of the region is strongly dominated by the calanoid copepod Calanus finmarchicus, verticallyand horizontally aggregated into dense patches which are the preferred foraging areas of right whales. The 1992 zooplankton was dominatedby pteropods, distributed evenly throughout the water column. It is possible, although unlikely, that pteropods are unacceptable prey forright whales. A more likely explanation is that their local densities within small-scale patches were below the energetic threshold requiredfor successful right whale feeding. The shift in zooplankton dominance in 1992 is likely related to significantly reduced water temperaturesand a delay in the development of the usual hydrographic structure of the region. The 1992 temperature and hydrographic anomalies, inturn, can be attributed principally to an unusually large influx of colder and fresher Scotian Shelf Water, and may have been enhanced bywidespread cooling of the Northern Hemisphere caused by sulphuric acid haze in the atmosphere from the June 1991 eruption of Pinatubovolcano in the Philippines.

Comparison of harbour seal diets in two inshore habitats of Atlantic Canada

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. D. Bowen ◽  
G. D. Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Atlantic Coast ◽  
Clupea Harengus ◽  
Harbour Seal ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
Pseudopleuronectes Americanus ◽  
Capelin Mallotus Villosus

We studied the composition of harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) diets in two areas, the lower Bay of Fundy and along the northeastern coast of Nova Scotia, that differ in prey species diversity, bottom type, and physical oceanography. Prey remains were found in 250 of 470 harbour seal stomachs collected mainly from May to September between 1988 and 1992. Although 23 taxa were identified, four species, Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), pollock (Pollachius virens), and short-finned squid (Illex illecebrosus), accounted for 84% of the estimated biomass of prey consumed in the two areas combined. Species, such as herring and squid, that dominated the diets in both habitats, also tended to be abundant in both habitats during the summer. Atlantic cod was the principal gadoid in the Bay of Fundy, whereas pollock was most important along the Atlantic coast. Differences in prey distribution and abundance appeared to account for differences in the contribution of the alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus), hake (Urophycis spp.), and capelin (Mallotus villosus) in the diet. Pronounced interannual variation in the species composition of diets was evident in both habitats. This variation was associated with broad-scale changes in prey abundance in some cases (e.g., squid and capelin) but not in others (e.g., Atlantic cod and pollock).

scholarly journals Elevations of lobster fishery groundlines in relation to their potential to entangle endangered North Atlantic right whales in the Bay of Fundy, Canada

2009 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 355-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean W. Brillant ◽  
Edward A. Trippel
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Body Height ◽  
Homarus Americanus ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Tidal Current Velocity ◽  
Right Whales ◽  
North Atlantic Right Whales ◽  
Lobster Fishery ◽  
Predicted Height

Abstract Brillant, S. W., and Trippel, E. A. 2010. Elevations of lobster fishery groundlines in relation to their potential to entangle endangered North Atlantic right whales in the Bay of Fundy, Canada. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 67: 355–364. Fishing gear is known to be a threat to North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis), and groundlines used in the American lobster (Homarus americanus) trap fishery are hypothesized to be an integral component of entanglements that may, in some incidents, lead to mortality. This research measured the elevations above the seabed of 17 regular groundlines on commercially active lobster gear in the Bay of Fundy and evaluated several factors governing rope elevation profiles. Mean elevation was 1.6 m (s.d. = 0.9, n = 5968, range = 0.0–7.0 m). The hypothesis that groundline elevations were ≤1.0 m (predicted height of taut groundlines) was rejected (Fisher's C = 66.9, p < 0.01), as was the hypothesis that elevations were >3.0 m (approximate body height of a right whale; Fisher's C = 129.5, p < 0.01). The proportion of groundline elevations ≤1.0 m was 0.32, and that <3.0 m was 0.92. Groundline elevations were negatively related to tidal current velocity at the time of setting (p < 0.001, r2 = 0.33) and were closer to the seabed in deep than in shallow water (p < 0.05, r2 = 0.07). It is suggested that groundlines in the Bay of Fundy may not constitute a large part of the risk associated with the entanglement of right whales, because most lines remained below the elevation hypothesized to be a threat (3 m). We also identified factors within the control of fishers setting trawls that minimize groundline elevations.

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