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Cetacean observations during a winter voyage into Antarctic sea ice south of Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 May 2004

Deborah Thiele  and
Peter C. Gill
Deborah Thiele
Affiliation:
Marequus Pty Ltd, School of Ecology and Environment, Deakin University, PO Box 423, Warrnambool VIC 3280, Australia E-mail: DeborahThiele@compuserve.com
Peter C. Gill
Affiliation:
Australocetus, “Rackham”, Gap Rd, Hartley Vale NSW 2790, Australia
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Abstract

Cetacean observations were made from a platform of opportunity (a winter sea ice and oceanography research voyage) in Antarctic sea ice south of Tasmania. Minke whales and killer whales were sighted well within the sea ice. Minkes were found between 180–350 km south of the ice edge, while killer whales were nearly 450 km south of the ice edge. Minkes were sparsely distributed throughout the seasonal sea ice, even in areas of apparent total ice cover. Killer whales (including calves) were found at the northern edge of a major coastal polynya system. The winter sea ice is a complex and dynamic environment in which lead and polynya systems may enable travel and foraging by some cetacean species. While biological productivity is known to be reduced from summer levels, large numbers of seals, penguins – and possibly small numbers of whales – may be supported by krill and other biota intimately associated with the sea ice habitat during winter.

Keywords

Antarctickiller whalesminke whalessea icewinter
Type
Papers—Life Sciences and Oceanography
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 11 , Issue 1 , March 1999 , pp. 48 - 53
Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 1999

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