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Fluctuating abundance of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in a calving ground off coastal Brazil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2008

Maria E. Morete ,
Tatiana L. Bisi ,
Richard M. Pace III  and
Sergio Rosso
Maria E. Morete*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 321, São Paulo, SP, 055088-900, Brazil Instituto Baleia Jubarte, Rua Barão do Rio Branco, 26, Caravelas, BA, CEP 45900-000, Brazil
Tatiana L. Bisi
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 321, São Paulo, SP, 055088-900, Brazil Instituto Baleia Jubarte, Rua Barão do Rio Branco, 26, Caravelas, BA, CEP 45900-000, Brazil
Richard M. Pace III
Affiliation:
Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water St, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
Sergio Rosso
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 321, São Paulo, SP, 055088-900, Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Maria E. Morete, Rua Passo da Patria, 991 apto III, Cep: 05085-000 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil email: miamorete@terra.com.br
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Abstract

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) population that uses Abrolhos Bank, off the east coast of Brazil as a breeding ground is increasing. To describe temporal changes in the relative abundance of humpback whales around Abrolhos, seven years (1998–2004) of whale count data were collected during July through to November. During one-hour-scans, observers determined group size within 9.3 km (5 n.m.) of a land-based observing station. A total of 930 scans, comprising 7996 sightings of adults and 2044 calves were analysed using generalized linear models that included variables for time of day, day of the season, years and two-way interactions as possible predictors. The pattern observed was the gradual build-up and decline in whale counts within seasons. Patterns and peaks of adult and calf counts varied among years. Although fluctuation was observed, there was generally an increasing trend in adult counts among years. Calf counts increased only in 2004. These fluctuations may have been caused by some environmental conditions in humpback whales' summering grounds and also by changes in spatial–temporal concentrations in Abrolhos Bank. The general pattern observed within the study area mirrored what was observed in the whole Abrolhos Bank. Knowledge of the consistency with which humpback whales use this important nursing area should prove beneficial for designing future monitoring programmes especially related to whale watching activities around Abrolhos Archipelago.

Keywords

Abrolhos Bankabundancegeneralized linear modelhumpback whaleland-based stationMegaptera novaeangliae
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 88 , Special Issue 6: Marine Mammals , September 2008 , pp. 1229 - 1235
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2008

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