The effects of prey demography on humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) abundance around Anvers Island, Antarctica |
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Authors: | Ari S Friedlaender William R Fraser Donna Patterson Song S Qian Patrick N Halpin |
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Institution: | (1) Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA;(2) Polar Oceans Research Group, PO Box 368, Sheridan, MN 59749, USA;(3) Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA |
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Abstract: | Baleen whales and Adelie penguins in the near-shore waters around the Antarctic Peninsula forage principally on Antarctic
krill. Given the spatial overlap in the distribution of these krill predators (particularly humpback whales) and their dependence
on krill, the goals of this paper are to determine if the inter-annual community structure and relative abundance of baleen
whales around Anvers Island is related to krill demography and abundance, and if the potential exists for inter-specific interactions
between Adelie penguins and baleen. We use whale sightings and prey data from both net tows and Adelie penguin stomach samples
to correlate the abundance of humpback whales with krill demography and abundance from 1993 to 2001. We find significant relationships
between whale abundance and the size–frequency distribution of krill targeted by Adelie penguins, as well as the foraging
success of Adelie penguins. These findings suggest both krill predators share common prey preferences in the upper portions
of the water column around Anvers Island. These findings highlight the need for better knowledge of baleen whale foraging
ecology and inter-specific interactions with penguins, as sea ice and krill populations around the Antarctic Peninsula are
affected by rapid changes in climate. |
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Keywords: | Humpback whales Krill Adelie penguins Foraging |
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