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Evidence of two subaggregations of humpback whales on the Kodiak,Alaska, feeding ground revealed from stable isotope analysis
Authors:Dana L. Wright  Briana Witteveen  Kate Wynne  Larissa Horstmann‐Dehn
Affiliation:University of Alaska, Fairbanks, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, Kodiak, Alaska, U.S.A
Abstract:Knowledge of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) foraging on feeding grounds is becoming increasingly important as the growing North Pacific population recovers from commercial whaling and consumes more prey, including economically important fishes. We explored spatial and temporal (interannual, within‐season) variability in summer foraging by humpback whales along the eastern side of the Kodiak Archipelago as described by stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope ratios of humpback whale skin (n = 118; 2004–2013). The trophic level (TL) of individual whales was calculated using basal food web δ15N values collected within the study area. We found evidence for the existence of two subaggregations of humpback whales (“North,” “South”) on the feeding ground that fed at different TLs throughout the study period. Linear mixed models suggest that within an average year, Kodiak humpback whales forage at a consistent TL during the feeding season. TL estimates support mixed consumption of fish and zooplankton species in the “North” (mean ± SE; 3.3 ± 0.1) and predominant foraging on zooplankton in the “South” (3.0 ± 0.1). This trend appears to reflect spatial differences in prey availability, and thus, our results suggest North Pacific humpback whales may segregate on feeding aggregations and target discrete prey species.
Keywords:   Megaptera novaeangliae     feeding subaggregation  trophic level  Gulf of Alaska  Kodiak Archipelago
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