Patterns of spatial and temporal distribution of humpback whales at the southern limit of the Southeast Pacific breeding area

Understanding the patterns of spatial and temporal distribution in threshold habitats of highly migratory and endangered species is important for understanding their habitat requirements and recovery trends. Herein, we present new data about the distribution of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeanglia...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2014-11, Vol.9 (11), p.e112627-e112627
Main Authors: Guidino, Chiara, Llapapasca, Miguel A, Silva, Sebastian, Alcorta, Belen, Pacheco, Aldo S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal behavior
Animal Distribution - physiology
Animal Migration - physiology
Animals
Aquatic mammals
Balaenoptera
Biology and Life Sciences
Boats
Breeding
Cetacea
Coastal environments
Coastal waters
Continental shelves
Data recovery
Earth Sciences
Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Ecosystem
Ecosystems
Endangered species
Foraging habitats
Habitats
Humpback Whale - physiology
Marine mammals
Megaptera
Megaptera novaeangliae
Migratory species
Pacific Ocean
Sea surface temperature
Spatial distribution
Surface temperature
Temperature
Temperature range
Temporal distribution
Trends
Upwelling
Whale-watching
Whales
Whales & whaling
Wildlife conservation
Winter
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Summary:Understanding the patterns of spatial and temporal distribution in threshold habitats of highly migratory and endangered species is important for understanding their habitat requirements and recovery trends. Herein, we present new data about the distribution of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in neritic waters off the northern coast of Peru: an area that constitutes a transitional path from cold, upwelling waters to warm equatorial waters where the breeding habitat is located. Data was collected during four consecutive austral winter/spring seasons from 2010 to 2013, using whale-watching boats as platforms for research. A total of 1048 whales distributed between 487 groups were sighted. The spatial distribution of humpbacks resembled the characteristic segregation of whale groups according to their size/age class and social context in breeding habitats; mother and calf pairs were present in very shallow waters close to the coast, while dyads, trios or more whales were widely distributed from shallow to moderate depths over the continental shelf break. Sea surface temperatures (range: 18.2-25.9°C) in coastal waters were slightly colder than those closer to the oceanic realm, likely due to the influence of cold upwelled waters from the Humboldt Current system. Our results provide new evidence of the southward extension of the breeding region of humpback whales in the Southeast Pacific. Integrating this information with the knowledge from the rest of the breeding region and foraging grounds would enhance our current understanding of population dynamics and recovery trends of this species.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0112627