ESTIMATES OF THE NUMBERS OF HUMPBACK WHALES OBSERVED MIGRATING PAST CAPE VIDAL, SOUTH AFRICA, 1988–1991

A recovery-monitoring program of the African east coast humpback whale population was carried out through shore-based visual surveys from Cape Vidal, northern Natal. Surveys of the northward migration were undertaken each winter from 1988 to 1991, and a survey of the southward migration was undertaken in 1990. Independent observer surveys were undertaken during June 1990 and during the entire 1991 survey. Hourly densities of groups sighted each day were adjusted for groups missed by observers with distance from the shore and under different sighting conditions. Densities were multiplied by 24 h and the mean group size of the survey year to give resulting daily densities of individuals, which were summed to provide totals of whales sighted during each year's survey. The best estimate of population size was 1,711 (made during the northward migration of 1990), although this is likely to be biased downwards by a proportion of the population passing outside of observers'view. Bootstrapping of the 1991 daily data resulted in CVs between 11.4% and 12.2%. The numbers sighted show the population to have undergone considerable recovery since protection in October 1963.     

REACTIONS OF HUMPBACK WHALES TO SKIN BIOPSY SAMPLING ON A WEST INDIES BREEDING GROUND

Abstract: Reactions of humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae , to the taking of skin biopsies and to associated activities were studied on one of their principal West Indies breeding grounds on Silver Bank (Dominican Republic). Results were in some cases different from those reported from a similar study of this species in a high-latitude feeding area. Almost half (44.1%) of 565 biopsied whales showed no immediate reaction to a hit, while a further 22.5% showed only low-level reactions. A total of 375 (87.8%) of 427 misses involved no reaction. Only one strong reaction was recorded. Behavior changes were recorded following 31 (5.5%) of 569 hits, and 18 (4.5%) of 404 misses. Evasive behavior related to vessel approach was exhibited prior to 72 (12.0%) of 598 hits and 100 (24.1%) of 415 misses. Mothers showed significantly fewer reactions to hits than other whales, and a similar frequency and type of behavior changes, although they tended to be more evasive before a shot was made. Presumed males in competitive groups also showed significantly fewer reactions to shots, and very few behavior changes. Overall, this study supports the belief that the biopsy itself has little effect on a whale and that, if the associated vessel approach is conducted with care, samples can usually be taken with minimal disturbance to the target animal. However, approaches may affect the probability of obtaining fluke photographs for individual identification.     

INTERCHANGE AND ISOLATION OF HUMPBACK WHALES OFF CALIFORNIA AND OTHER NORTH PACIFIC FEEDING GROUNDS

Humpback whales feed in several high-latitude areas of the North Pacific. We examined the interchange of humpback whales between one of these areas, off California, and those in other feeding grounds in the eastern North Pacific:. Fluke photographs of 597 humpback whales identified off California between 1986 and 1992 were compared with those off Oregon and Washington (29); British Columbia (81); southeastern Alaska (343); Prince William Sound, Alaska (141); Kodiak Island, Alaska (104); Shumagin Islands, Alaska (22); and in the Bering Sea (7). A high degree of interchange, both inter-and intrayear, was found among humpback whales seen off California, Oregon, and Washington., A low rate of interchange was found between British Columbia and California.: two whales seen near the British Columbia/Washington border were photographed off California in a different year, No interchange was found between California and the three feeding areas in Alaska. Humpback whales off California, Oregon, and Washington form a single intermixing feeding aggregation with only limited interchange with areas farther north. These findings are consistent with photographic identification studies in the North Atlantic and with genetic studies in both the North Atlantic and North Pacific.     

Boom to bust? Implications for the continued rapid growth of the eastern Australian humpback whale population despite recovery

Despite heavy overexploitation and near extirpation, some populations of large whales are recovering. Monitoring their recovery has important implications for conservation, management and our understanding of population dynamics and recovery in large mammals. The eastern Australian population of humpback whales was hunted to near-extirpation by the early 1960s. Despite this, the population started to recover, and structured surveys were initiated in the 1980s. These surveys comprise one of the longest and most consistent series of surveys of a population of whales in the world. Collectively, they have demonstrated a rapid recovery of the population with a long-term average rate of increase of 10.9% per annum. Here, we present the results of the last three surveys, conducted in 2007, 2010 and 2015. The 2015 survey shows that the population is essentially recovered, with abundance estimated at 24,545 whales (95% confidence interval 21,631–27,851), and yet continues to grow at a rapid rate. Modeling the rate of growth and abundance suggests that either the whales are heading for a higher than expected abundance of at least 40,000 whales or that an irruption may occur with models suggesting a peak in whale abundance in 2021–2026. Understanding the possible future scenarios of this population is critical to its management. This situation also presents a rare opportunity to study in detail the growth of a well-defined population of large mammal as it recovers from severe depletion.     

NORTH PACIFIC HUMPBACK WHALE SONGS: A COMPARISON OF SOUTHEAST ALASKAN FEEDING GROUND SONGS WITH HAWAIIAN WINTERING GROUND SONGS

Humpback whales sing long, complex songs on their wintering grounds. On 25 August 1979 and 3 September 1981, we made recordings of humpback whale songs in southeastern Alaska, showing that humpback whales also sing on the summer feeding grounds. Both these Alaskan samples are songs in that they are repeating cyclical sound patterns and follow the known structure for humpback whale song. The Alaskan songs contain all the same material sung in the same order as that heard off Mexico and Hawaii in the surrounding wintering seasons. However, song, theme and some phrase durations are abbreviated in the Alaskan songs. The recording of these two songs represents the full sample of song recorded from 155 days over five years of attempting to record humpback whale song in Alaskan waters.     

ASSESSMENT OF HETEROGENEITY IN SIGHTING PROBABILITIES OF HUMPBACK WHALES WITHIN VIEWING RANGE OF CAPE VIDAL, SOUTH AFRICA

The migrations of humpback whales on the African east coast were monitored between 1988 and 1991 at Cape Vidal, South Africa. Shore-based surveys of the northward migration were undertaken each winter, and a survey of the southward migration was undertaken in 1990, from an approximately 60-m-high vantage point on a headland. Independent-observer surveys were carried out in both 1990 (22 d) and 1991 (51 d) to determine the proportion of the population within the survey area that were being missed by observers using a single mark-release model. Results were stratified into three distance intervals from the shore and three sighting condition intervals; there were constant sighting probabilities from the south tower under different sighting conditions, while those from the north tower increased slightly as sighting conditions improved. Sighting probabilities from both towers were highest in the intermediate distance interval and decreased in both the inshore and offshore regions.