scholarly journals Bowhead and Gray Whale Distributions, Sighting Rates, and Habitat Associations in the Eastern Chukchi Sea, Summer and Fall 2009–15, with a Retrospective Comparison to 1982–91

ARCTIC ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet T. Clarke ◽  
Amy S. Kennedy ◽  
Megan C. Ferguson
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Chukchi Sea ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Bowhead Whale ◽  
Line Transect ◽  
Gray Whale ◽  
Depth Zone ◽  
Gray Whales ◽  
Bowhead Whales ◽  
Preferred Habitat

We analyzed data from line-transect aerial surveys for marine mammals conducted in the eastern Chukchi Sea (67˚–72˚ N, 157˚–169˚ W) in July to October of 2009–15 to investigate bowhead and gray whale distributions, behaviors, sighting rates, and habitat selection preferences, the last of which allowed direct comparison with results from data collected in this area in 1982–91. Bowhead whales use the eastern Chukchi Sea primarily for migrating between the Beaufort Sea and the Bering Sea, while gray whales use the area to feed on locally abundant benthic amphipods and other prey. Bowhead whales were observed during all survey months and were distributed up to 300 km offshore west and southwest of Point Barrow, Alaska, but without a defined migratory corridor in either summer (July-August) or fall (September-October). Bowhead whale sighting rates (whales per km on effort) were highest in the shelf/trough (51–200 m North) depth zone in the northeastern Chukchi Sea in both summer and fall. This pattern was reflected in habitat selection ratios, which found bowhead whales in summer and fall selecting primarily shelf/trough habitat in the northeastern Chukchi Sea, with shelf habitat (36 – 50 m) being preferred secondarily. Gray whales were observed in all survey months and were distributed primarily within ~95 km of shore between Point Barrow and Icy Cape in the northeastern Chukchi Sea, and about 60–115 km southwest of Point Hope in the southern Chukchi Sea. In both summer and fall, gray whale sighting rates and habitat selection ratios were highest in the shelf/trough (51–200 m South) depth zone in the southern Chukchi Sea. In the northeastern part of the study area, gray whale sighting rates and habitat selection ratios both identified coastal habitat (≤ 35 m) as preferred habitat in summer and shelf/trough (51–200 m North) as preferred habitat in fall. Distribution and habitat associations of bowhead and gray whales remained similar over the 34-year time span with one exception: gray whale preference for shelf/trough habitat in the southern Chukchi Sea is now evident throughout summer and fall, whereas three decades ago gray whale preference for that area was limited to fall only.

Bowhead and Beluga Whale Distributions, Sighting Rates, and Habitat Associations in the Western Beaufort Sea in Summer and Fall 2009–16, with Comparison to 1982–91

ARCTIC ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet T. Clarke ◽  
Megan C. Ferguson ◽  
Amy L. Willoughby ◽  
Amelia A. Brower
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Sea Ice ◽  
Continental Slope ◽  
Beaufort Sea ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Bowhead Whale ◽  
Line Transect ◽  
Outer Continental Shelf ◽  
Beluga Whales ◽  
Shallow Habitat

We analyzed data from line-transect aerial surveys for marine mammals conducted in the western Beaufort Sea (shore to 72˚ N, 140˚–157˚ W) from July to October of 2009–16 to investigate the distribution, behaviors, sighting rates, and habitat use preferences of bowhead and beluga whales. The habitat use data allowed for direct comparison with data collected in the same area from 1982 to 1991. Both species are ice-adapted, migrating through leads in sea ice in spring, and are seasonal inhabitants of the western Beaufort Sea during summer and fall. From 2009 to 2016, bowheads were seen in all survey months, with the highest overall sighting rate (whales per km) in August. Bowhead sighting rates were highest in the whales’ preferred habitats: outer shelf habitat (51–200 m depth) in July and inner shelf-shallow habitat (≤ 20 m depth) in August, September, and October. Beluga whales were also seen in all survey months, with highest overall sighting rate in July. Beluga whales were overwhelmingly associated with continental slope habitat (201–2000 m depth) in all months. Bowhead distribution and depth preferences in summer months of 2009–16 differed from those observed in 1982–91, when bowheads were not seen during limited survey effort in July and preferred outer continental shelf habitat in August. These differences indicate that bowhead whale preference for shallow shelf habitat now occurs earlier in summer than it used to. Beluga distribution and depth preference remained similar between 1982–91 and 2009–16, with strong preference for continental slope during both periods. Differences in sea ice cover habitat association for both species are likely due more to the relative lack of sea ice in recent years compared to the earlier period than to shifts in habitat preference. Habitat partitioning between bowhead and beluga whales in the western Beaufort Sea remained evident except in July, when both species used continental slope habitat. In July – October 2009–16, the distribution, sighting rates, and behavior of both bowheads and belugas in the western Beaufort showed considerable interannual variation, which underscores the importance of annual sampling to accurate records of the complex western Beaufort Sea ecosystem.

Observations on gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) utilization patterns in the northeastern Chukchi Sea, July–October 1982–1987

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (11) ◽  
pp. 2646-2654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet T. Clarke ◽  
Sue E. Moore ◽  
Donald K. Ljungblad
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Chukchi Sea ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Gray Whale ◽  
Gray Whales ◽  
Aerial Surveys ◽  
Abundance Estimates ◽  
Point Hope ◽  
Utilization Patterns ◽  
Cow Calf

A total of 821 gray whales were seen during aerial surveys in the northeastern Chukchi Sea from July through October 1982–1987. Gray whale distribution extended from south of Point Hope to northeast of Point Barrow, Alaska, between 0.5 and 166 km offshore. Monthly abundance estimates (number of whales/survey hour) were highest in July (6.81) and lowest in October (0.40). Gray whales were usually in open water (82%, n = 670) or in light ice (16%, n = 134) and were seldom associated with heavy ice (2%, n = 17). Most whales were feeding (63%, n = 514), with the majority of the others swimming and diving (24%, n = 193) or forming part of a cow–calf association (9%, n = 72). One group of three whales was involved in sexual activity. Feeding whales were seen most often within 40 km of the shore, but also occurred offshore. Thirty-six gray whale calves were seen. Calf abundance (number of calves/survey hour) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in July, when 92% (n = 33) of all calves were seen, than in any other month. Most cow–calf pairs were seen nearshore between Point Hope and Point Barrow. Monthly calf ratios (number of calves/number of whales) ranged from 0.09 in July to 0.00 in October, with an overall rate of 0.04.

Age determination of mysticete whales using 210Pb/226Ra disequilibria

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig R Kastelle ◽  
Kim EW Shelden ◽  
Daniel K Kimura
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Age Determination ◽  
Decay Chain ◽  
Individual Growth ◽  
Gray Whale ◽  
Gray Whales ◽  
Slow Growth Rate ◽  
Bowhead Whales ◽  
Radiometric Ages

Accurate age determination is fundamental to the study of population structure and individual growth rates of mysticete whales. Here the disequilibrium between 210Pb and 226Ra in the tympanic bullae of two mysticete whale species was investigated for use as a chronometer. Radiometric ageing depends upon accumulation of the naturally occurring radionuclide 226Ra (exclusive of other 238U decay-chain members) in the bullae and subsequent retention of its progeny 210Pb. Ages are determined from the 210Pb/226Ra activity ratio. Samples were obtained from five gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) with lengths of 4.5 (a neonate), 7.8, 8.7, 10, and 11.5 m, and two bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) with lengths of 12.9 and 17.4 m. In gray whales, radiometric ages were estimated in the three largest whales. In the neonate, the 210Pb/226Ra ratio was above one and was not usable. The 7.8-m gray whale was used to determine the initial 210Pb/226Ra ratio required for age determination. We propose a theory of gray whale bullae growth starting at the fetal stage with an open system (with a 210Pb/226Ra > 1 and a fast growth rate), which transitions by 1 year old to a closed system (with a 210Pb/226Ra << 1 and a slow growth rate). In both bowhead whales, radiometric age could not be estimated because the 210Pb/226Ra ratio was above one. The excess 210Pb in these bullae samples was likely accumulated from the whales' environment via prey, or in the case of the neonate gray whale, across the placental boundary. Our results indicate that the underlying assumptions of the 210Pb/226Ra radiometric ageing method may not hold true in bowhead whales. Successful application of this method to bowhead whales is therefore doubtful.

Swarming benthic crustaceans in the Bering and Chukchi seas and their relation to geographic patterns in gray whale feeding

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (6) ◽  
pp. 1531-1542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stacy L. Kim ◽  
John S. Oliver
Keyword(s):  
Bering Sea ◽  
Baja California ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Chukchi Sea ◽  
Gray Whale ◽  
Life Stages ◽  
Gray Whales ◽  
Feeding Ground ◽  
Geographic Patterns ◽  
Feeding Grounds

Swarming benthic crustaceans were widespread in the Chukchi and Bering seas. Swarms differed in their geographic extent, local biomass, and life stages of swarming individuals and thus in their availability to feeding gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus). Immature amphipods apparently swarmed for dispersal, whereas cumaceans probably swarmed for mating. All life stages of the hyperbenthic mysids occurred above the sea floor. Although the geographic spread of mysid swarms and shrimp communities was much greater than for the amphipod and cumacean swarms, the latter swarmed in denser patches to produce higher local biomass. Crustacean swarms are important in describing the geographic patterns of gray whale feeding from the Chukchi Sea to Baja California, including the primary, secondary, and tertiary feeding grounds. The primary feeding ground is in the southern Chukchi Sea and especially the northern Bering Sea, where gray whales suck infaunal amphipods from fine sand, producing an extensive record of feeding excavations. The primary feeding ground is divided into a relatively deep zone (> 20 m), where tube-dwelling ampeliscid amphipods are the major prey, and a shallow zone (< 20 m), where burrowing pontoporeid amphipods dominate. The secondary feeding ground is in the southern Bering Sea along the eastern Alaska Peninsula and adjacent Alaskan mainland where shrimp and mysids are the major prey. The tertiary feeding ground is at the periphery of the primary and secondary feeding grounds in Alaskan waters and south of the Bering Sea where there is a general decrease in the availability of prey and their use by gray whales from Canada to Baja California. The tertiary prey communities include swarms of amphipods, cumaceans, and mysids as well as infaunal polychaete worms, but mysids are used the most by whales. The primary gray whale feeding ground was much smaller during low sea levels when the extensive Beringian Platform was exposed to air. This shallow shelf is a unique habitat that presently harbors the largest ampeliscid amphipod community in the world. At low sea level, swarming crustaceans like those sampled in the present study may have been equally or more important to gray whales than infaunal prey. These historical changes in prey availability may account for the catholic diet of the gray whale.

Bowhead whale autumn distribution and relative abundance in relation to oil and gas lease areas in the northeastern Chukchi Sea

Polar Record ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 29 (170) ◽  
pp. 209-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue E. Moore ◽  
Janet T. Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Chukchi Sea ◽  
Bowhead Whale ◽  
Bowhead Whales ◽  
Aerial Surveys ◽  
Westward Migration ◽  
Offshore Oil And Gas ◽  
Offshore Oil

ABSTRACTBowhead whales pass near or through offshore oil and gas lease areas in the northeastern Chukchi Sea during their westward migration each autumn. Results of aerial surveys conducted from mid-September through October 1982–1990 indicate that whale distribution overlapped lease area boundaries north and east of Point Barrow, Alaska. Bowhead relative abundance was high throughout the fall in nearshore sub-blocks east, north, and southwest of Point Barrow, with somewhat lower indices in offshore sub-blocks northwest of Point Barrow.

scholarly journals Size and trends of the bowhead whale, beluga and narwhal stocks wintering off West Greenland

2002 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
MP Heide-Jørgensen ◽  
Mario Acquarone
Keyword(s):  
Bowhead Whale ◽  
Delphinapterus Leucas ◽  
Line Transect ◽  
Total Abundance ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
Bowhead Whales ◽  
Line Transect Survey ◽  
Monodon Monoceros ◽  
Northern Edge ◽  
Index Estimate

To assess the size and trends of the abundance of the bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), the beluga, or white whale (Delphinapterus leucas), and the narwhal (Monodon monoceros) visual aerial surveys were conducted in West Greenland in March 1998 and 1999. An estimated 49 bowhead whales (95% CI: 13 to 188) were present at the surface in 1998. Data from land-based observations enabled correction for bowhead whales that were not available at the surface to be seen during the survey. By applying a rounded average of 80% (SE=3) for submergence an estimate of 246 bowhead whales (95% CI: 62 to 978) in 1998 was obtained. The 76 and 47 sightings of beluga pods in 1998 and 1999, respectively, had distributions similar to those of previous surveys with the highest concentration at the northern edge of the northern part of Store Hellefiskebanke. No belugas were seen in the southernmost area between Maniitsoq and Paamiut. The index estimate of the abundance of belugas comparable with previous surveys was 929 (95% CI: 563 to 1,533) in 1998 and 735 (95% CI: 436 to 1,239) in 1999. When analysing the sightings as a line-transect survey and correcting for whales that were either submerged or at the surface but missed by the observers an estimated 7,941 (95% CI: 3,650 to 17,278) belugas wintered in West Greenland in 1998-1999. The uncorrected estimate of narwhal abundance was 524 (95% CI: 214 to 1,284) and correcting for the same biases as for the belugas gives a total abundance of 2,861 (95% CI: 954 to 8,578) narwhals in 1998-1999.

First Photographic Match of an Anomalously White Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) in the Northeastern Chukchi Sea, Alaska, and Baja California, Mexico

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-12
Author(s):  
Amy L. Willoughby ◽  
Megan C. Ferguson ◽  
Janet T. Clarke ◽  
Amelia A. Brower
Keyword(s):  
Baja California ◽  
Chukchi Sea ◽  
Gray Whale ◽  
Eschrichtius Robustus

scholarly journals Mitogenomics and the genetic differentiation of contemporary Balaena mysticetus (Cetacea) from Svalbard

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lutz Bachmann ◽  
Andrea A Cabrera ◽  
Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen ◽  
Olga V Shpak ◽  
Christian Lydersen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Differentiation ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Demographic History ◽  
Bowhead Whale ◽  
Recent Common Ancestor ◽  
Mitochondrial Genomes ◽  
Balaena Mysticetus ◽  
Bowhead Whales ◽  
Most Recent Common Ancestor ◽  
Loop Region

Abstract Full mitochondrial genomes were assembled for 12 recently sampled animals from the Svalbard bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) stock via high-throughput sequencing data, facilitating analysis of the demographic history of the population for the first time. The Svalbard population has retained noticeable amounts of mitochondrial genome diversity despite extreme historical harvest levels. Haplotype and nucleotide diversities were similar to those estimated earlier for other bowhead whale populations. The reconstructed demographic history was in accordance with a boom–bust scenario, combining a slight Pleistocene population growth 25 000–35 000 years ago and a Holocene decline. Employing a mutation rate of 3.418 × 10–8 substitutions per site per year, the time to the most recent common ancestor for the mitochondrial genomes of the contemporary Svalbard bowhead whales was estimated to be 68 782 (54 353–83 216) years before the present. Based on 370 bp fragments of the D-loop region, significant genetic differentiation was detected between all extant bowhead whale populations across the circumpolar Arctic. Thus, the Svalbard bowhead whales can be regarded as a population with its own genetic legacy.

scholarly journals Comment on “Genetic analysis of 16th-century whale bones prompts a revision of the impact of Basque whaling on right and bowhead whales in the western North Atlantic”

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (7) ◽  
pp. 1059-1065 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aldemaro Romero ◽  
Shelly Kannada
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Analysis ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Bowhead Whale ◽  
16Th Century ◽  
Bowhead Whales ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic ◽  
Red Bay ◽  
The Impact

Rastogi et al. presented their genetic analysis of 16th-century whale bones found on a Basque whaling ship excavated from Red Bay, Labrador Peninsula, Canada. Based on the results from a very small sample, these authors concluded that whaling populations were already depleted before the onset of whaling. This is in direct contradiction to historical data. They also implied that the Basques were the only Europeans whaling in the North Atlantic before the onset of Yankee whaling and that there was a belief that Basque whalers historically killed equal numbers of right and bowhead whales. Here we present data based on historical and archaeological records generated by several authors using different methodologies, which clearly show that (i) Basques were not the only whalers that impacted cetacean populations in the North Atlantic; (ii) the number of whales killed by different peoples for approximately two centuries indicates that both right and bowhead whale population levels were much higher than typically assumed; and (iii) for many years there have been records published indicating that the Basques and others killed more bowhead whales than right whales, at least in the western North Atlantic.

Migration and Feeding of the Gray Whale (Eschrichtius gibbosus)

1962 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 815-838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon C. Pike
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Bering Sea ◽  
Chukchi Sea ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Gulf Of Alaska ◽  
Bering Strait ◽  
Visual Contact ◽  
Gray Whales ◽  
Baleen Whales ◽  
The Bering Sea

Observations of gray whales from the coasts of British Columbia, Washington, and Alaska are compared with published accounts in order to re-assess knowledge of migration and feeding of the American herd. Source of material is mainly from lighthouses and lightships.The American herd of gray whales retains close contact with the shore during migration south of Alaska. Off Washington and British Columbia the northward migration begins in February, ends in May, and is at a peak during the first two weeks in April; the southward migration occurs in December and January, and is at a peak in late December. Northward migrants stop occasionally to rest or feed; southward migrants are travelling faster and appear not to stop to rest or feed during December and January. Gray whales seen off British Columbia, sometimes in inside protected waters, from June through October, probably remain in this area throughout the summer and fall months.Available evidence suggests that gray whales retain contact with the coast while circumscribing the Gulf of Alaska, enter the Bering Sea through eastern passages of the Aleutian chain, and approach St. Lawrence Island by way of the shallow eastern part of the Bering Sea. Arriving off the coast of St. Lawrence Island in May and June the herd splits with some parts dispersing along the Koryak coast and some parts continuing northward as the ice retreats through Bering Strait. Gray whales feed in the waters of the Chukchi Sea along the Siberian and Alaskan coasts in July, August and September. Advance of the ice through Bering Strait in October initiates the southern migration for most of the herd. In summering areas, in northern latitudes, gray whales feed in shallow waters on benthic and near-benthic organisms, mostly amphipods.There is no evidence to indicate that gray whales utilize ocean currents or follow the same routes as other baleen whales in their migrations. Visual contact with coastal landmarks appear to aid gray whales in successfully accomplishing the 5000-mile migration between summer feeding grounds in the Bering and Chukchi Seas and winter breeding grounds in Mexico.Reconstruction of the migration from all available data shows that most of the American herd breeds and calves in January and February, migrates northward in March, April and May, feeds from June through October, and migrates southward in November and December.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document