Summary
We attached satellite tags to 16 humpback whales off South Eastern Australia in October/November 2008. The tags transmitted for an average of 55 days (range: 3-156 days) and provided data on migratory movements between Australia and the Antarctic feeding grounds. While the dispersal into the Southern Ocean was generally consistent with movements determined from historical discovery marks, unexpected findings included an eastwards migration of eight whales to SW New Zealand, regular feeding in temperate latitudes (areas of high productivity) and a migration of one whale into Area IV. A full analysis of these data, with a focus on habitat utilization, will be developed.
Authors:Gales N. Double M.C. Robinson S. Jenner C. Jenner M. King E. Gedamke J. Paton D Raymond B.
Published in: 2009
Category 2: International meeting papers
Program area: Southern Ocean Ecosystems
Gales N., Double M.C., Robinson S., Jenner C., Jenner M., King E., Gedamke J., Paton D, Raymond B.
(2009)
Satellite tracking of southbound East Australian humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae): challenging the feast or famine model for migrating whales,
2008 meeting of the International Whaling Commission - Scientific Committee, Paper SC/61/SH17
12pp;
Related projects
Conservation and Management Science of Marine Mammals
GALES, Dr Nicholas (Nick)
Bunger Hills, Davis, Casey, Australia (or home country), Marine Science, Other