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Anderson PA, Poe RB, Thompson LA, Weber N, Romano TA. Behavioral responses of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) to environmental variation in an Arctic estuary. Behav Processes 2017; 145:48-59. [PMID: 28927964 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Some Arctic estuaries serve as substrate rubbing sites for beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in the summer, representing a specialized resource for the species. Understanding how environmental variation affects the species' behavior is essential to management of these habitats in coming years as the climate changes. Spatiotemporal and environmental variables were recorded for behavioral observations, during which focal groups of whales in an estuary were video-recorded for enumeration and behavioral analysis. Multiple polynomial linear regression models were optimized to identify the effects of spatiotemporal and environmental conditions on group size, composition, and the frequency of behaviors being performed. Results suggest that belugas take advantage of environmental variation to express behaviors that 1) protect young, e.g., bringing calves close to shore during cloudier days, obscuring visualization from terrestrial predators; 2) avoid predation, e.g., rubbing against substrates at higher Beaufort sea states to obscure visualization, and resting during low tides while swimming on outgoing tides to avoid stranding; and 3) optimize bioenergetic resources, e.g., swimming during lower Beaufort sea states and clearer days. Predictive models like the ones presented in this study can inform conservation management strategies as environmental conditions change in future years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Anderson
- Mystic Aquarium, A division of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., 55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, CT 06355, USA; Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut at Avery Point, 1084 Shennecossett Rd., Groton, CT 06340, USA.
| | - Russell B Poe
- Birch Biopharmaceutical Consultants LLC, P.O. Box 3143, Groton, CT 06340, USA.
| | - Laura A Thompson
- Mystic Aquarium, A division of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., 55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, CT 06355, USA; Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut at Avery Point, 1084 Shennecossett Rd., Groton, CT 06340, USA.
| | - Nansen Weber
- Arctic Watch Wilderness Lodge, 363 Pritchard Rd., Alcove QC J0X 1A0, Canada.
| | - Tracy A Romano
- Mystic Aquarium, A division of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., 55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, CT 06355, USA; Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut at Avery Point, 1084 Shennecossett Rd., Groton, CT 06340, USA.
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Henson SM, Dennis B, Hayward JL, Cushing J, Galusha JG. Predicting the dynamics of animal behaviour in field populations. Anim Behav 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2006.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Henson SM, Galusha JG, Hayward JL, Cushing JM. Modeling territory attendance and preening behavior in a seabird colony as functions of environmental conditions. JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS 2007; 1:95-107. [PMID: 22880615 DOI: 10.1080/17513750601032679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
In previous studies we developed a general compartmental methodology for modeling animal behavior and applied the methodology to marine birds and mammals. In this study we used the methodology to construct a system of two differential equations to model the dynamics of territory attendance and preening in a gull colony on Protection Island, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington. We found that colony occupancy was driven primarily by abiotic environmental conditions, including tide height, time of day, solar elevation, and wind speed over open water. For birds in the colony, preening behavior was driven to some extent by abiotic environmental conditions (including time of day, solar elevation, humidity, and wind speed on the colony), but apparently was driven primarily by local and/or biotic effects not included in the model. In terms of R(2) values, the model explained 65% and 37% of the variability in colony occupancy and preening data, respectively, as a function of these six abiotic environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shandelle M Henson
- Department of Mathematics, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI 49104, USA.
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