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Humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae and southern right whales Eubalaena australis in Gerlache Strait, Antarctica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2009

Gregory S. Stone  and
William M. Hamner
Gregory S. Stone
Affiliation:
College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbour, Maine 04609, USA
William M. Hamner
Affiliation:
Biology Department, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024, USA
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Abstract

During surveys conducted 2–20 April 1986 in Gerlache Strait, Antarctic Peninsula, 103 humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae and eight right whales Eubalaena australis were sighted. The right whale sightings extend the southern limit of known distribution for the species. Humpback and right whale densities were respectively 0.22 (sd 0.23) and 0.01 (sd 0.06) whales per survey mile. Highest densities for both species were recorded inside bays, rather than in the relatively open water of Gerlache Strait. Both species were feeding on Antarctic krill Euphausia superba. Twenty-three humpback and four right whales were identified individually using photographs of natural features. Also included are sighting records of 18 southern bottlenose whales Hyperoodon planifrons.

Type
Articles
Information
Polar Record , Volume 24 , Issue 148 , January 1988 , pp. 15 - 20
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

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