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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
Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) behaviour determines habitat use in two Australian bays
Marine & Freshwater Research, Vol.72(9), pp.1251-1267
2021
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Abstract
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) require a suite of essential habitats during their long migration. Therefore, the identification of critical habitats is important for continuation of their successful recovery. In this study we investigated the behaviours and habitat usage exhibited by humpback whales in two known aggregation sites on the east coast of Australia. Using a combined 5400 humpback whale records collected from Hervey Bay between 1999 and 2009 and from the Gold Coast Bay between 2011 and 2018, we analysed different types of behavioural categories. We found that humpback whales in Hervey Bay primarily exhibited surface travel and non-aggressive social behaviour, whereas both sites appeared to be similarly important for resting. Our results suggest that the Gold Coast Bay provides habitat for a wide range of critical humpback whale activities, in particular for resting mother–calf pairs, mature males seeking copulation and socialising immature whales. Hervey Bay had a higher number of mother–calf pair sightings, confirming the area as an important resting site. This study demonstrates that the two regions are critical habitats for humpback whales during their annual migration, but for different essential activities, and should be considered as a whale protection area.
Details
- Title
- Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) behaviour determines habitat use in two Australian bays
- Creators
- S McCulloch - Griffith UniversityJ.-O Meynecke - Griffith UniversityT Franklin - Oceania Project, TheW Franklin - Oceania Project, TheA. L. M Chauvenet - Griffith University
- Publication Details
- Marine & Freshwater Research, Vol.72(9), pp.1251-1267
- Publisher
- CSIRO Publishing
- Grant note
- J. O. Meynecke received funding from a charitable trust under the Whales & Climate Research program.
- Identifiers
- 991012978841002368
- Copyright
- Journal Compilation © CSIRO 2021 Open Access CC BY
- Academic Unit
- Science; Faculty of Science and Engineering; Marine Ecology Research Centre
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article