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Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Have whales returned to a historical hotspot of industrial whaling? The pattern of southern right whale Eubalaena australis recovery at South Georgia
Endangered Species Research, Vol.43, pp.323-339
05/11/2020
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Abstract
Around 176500 whales were killed in the sub-Antarctic waters off South Georgia (South Atlantic) between 1904 and 1965. In recent decades, whales have once again become summer visitors, with the southern right whale (SRW) the most commonly reported species until 2011. Here, we assess the distribution, temporal pattern, health status and likely prey of SRWs in these waters, combining observations from a summertime vessel-based expedition to South Georgia, stable isotope data collected from SRWs and putative prey and sightings reports collated by the South Georgia Museum. The expedition used directional acoustics and visual surveys to localise whales and collected skin biopsies and photo-IDs. During 76 h of visual observation effort over 19 expedition days, SRWs were encountered 15 times (~31 individuals). Photo-IDs, combined with publicly contributed images from commercial vessels, were reconciled and quality-controlled to form a catalogue of 6 fully (i.e. both sides) identified SRWs and 26 SRWs identified by either left or right sides. No photo-ID matches were found with lower-latitude calving grounds, but 3 whales had gull lesions supporting a direct link with Península Valdés, Argentina. The isotopic position of SRWs in the South Georgia food web suggests feeding on a combination of copepod and krill species. Opportunistic reports of SRW sightings and associated group sizes remain steady over time, while humpback whales provide a strong contrast, with increased sighting rates and group sizes seen since 2013. These data suggest a plateau in SRWs and an increasing humpback whale presence in South Georgia waters following the cessation of whaling.
Details
- Title
- Have whales returned to a historical hotspot of industrial whaling? The pattern of southern right whale Eubalaena australis recovery at South Georgia
- Creators
- Jennifer A Jackson - British Antarctic SurveyAmy Kennedy - University of WashingtonMichael Moore - Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionArtur Andriolo - Universidade Federal de Juiz de ForaConnor C G Bamford - British Antarctic SurveySusannah Calderan - The Scottish Association for Marine ScienceTed Cheeseman - Southern Cross UniversityGeorge Gittins - Fishery Patrol Vessel Pharos SGKarina Groch - Instituto AustralisNatalie Kelly - Department of Agriculture, Water and the EnvironmentRussell Leaper - International Fund for Animal WelfareMatthew S Leslie - Swarthmore CollegeSarah Lurcock - South Georgia Heritage TrustBrian S Miller - Department of Agriculture, Water and the EnvironmentJessica Richardson - Duke UniversityVicky Rowntree - University of UtahPatrick Smith - Fishery Patrol Vessel Pharos SGEmilie Stepien - University of Southern DenmarkGabriele Stowasser - British Antarctic SurveyPhil Trathan - British Antarctic SurveyEls Vermeulen - University of PretoriaAlexandre N Zerbini - University of WashingtonEmma L Carroll - University of St Andrews
- Publication Details
- Endangered Species Research, Vol.43, pp.323-339
- Publisher
- Inter-Research
- Grant note
- This work was supported by funding from an EU BEST 2.0 Medium Grant 1594, with additional support provided by a DARWIN PLUS award DPLUS057 and additional funding from the World Wildlife Fund. This study forms part of the Ecosystems component of the British Antarctic Survey Polar Science for Planet Earth Programme, funded by The Natural Environment Research Council.
- Identifiers
- 991012983697302368
- Copyright
- © The authors and the British Antarctic Survey 2020. Open Access under Creative Commons by Attribution Licence. Use, distribution and reproduction are unrestricted. Authors and original publication must be credited. Publisher: Inter-Research · www.int-res.com
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Marine Ecology Research Centre; School of Environment, Science and Engineering; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article