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Cheng Z, Li Y, Pine MK, Wan X, Zuo T, Niu M, Wang J. Acoustic Presence of Cetaceans in the Miaodao Archipelago, China. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13081306. [PMID: 37106869 PMCID: PMC10135065 DOI: 10.3390/ani13081306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Once an important cetacean habitat, the Miaodao Archipelago has been altered by human-induced disturbances over several decades. While cetacean diversity is known to have decreased, no recent data on species diversity around Miaodao are known to exist. Capitalizing on the high vocal activity of cetaceans, three passive acoustic surveys, including towed and stationary types, were undertaken to detect the presence of species-specific vocalizations in May 2021, October 2021, and July 2022, as most cetacean sightings occurred during May and August in recent years. The results revealed that the East Asian finless porpoise is the sole cetacean species that can be reliably observed around the archipelago, as no other species were detected. The acoustic data also revealed potentially clumped distributions of finless porpoises with some seasonal variation. While not acoustically detected during any of the surveys, humpback whales, minke whales, and killer whales have been visually sighted in the region. The lack of acoustic detection of these species suggests that they are likely to be temporary visitors to the region, or at least exhibit strong seasonality in their presence within the region. These new data provide the latest snapshot of cetacean presence around the Miaodao Archipelago that can help inform future research and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaolong Cheng
- Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yongtao Li
- Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Matthew Keith Pine
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Xiaoling Wan
- School of Animal Science and Nutritional Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China
| | - Tao Zuo
- Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Mingxiang Niu
- Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266237, China
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Ramos EA, Cheeseman T, Marcondes MCC, Olio M, Vogel A, Elwen S, de Melo THM, Facchola C, Cipolotti S, Southerland K, Findlay K, Seyboth E, McCue SA, Kotze PGH, Seakamela SM. Interchange of Southern Hemisphere humpback whales across the South Atlantic Ocean. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4621. [PMID: 36944685 PMCID: PMC10030900 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31358-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The cosmopolitan distribution of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) is largely driven by migrations between winter low-latitude breeding grounds and summer high-latitude feeding grounds. Southern Hemisphere humpback whales faced intensive exploitation during the whaling eras and recently show evidence of population recovery. Gene flow and shared song indicate overlap between the western (A) and eastern (B1, B2) Breeding Stocks in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans (C1). Here, we investigated photo-identification evidence of population interchange using images of individuals photographed during boat-based tourism and research in Brazil and South Africa from 1989 to 2022. Fluke images were uploaded to Happywhale, a global digital database for marine mammal identification. Six whales were recaptured between countries from 2002 to 2021 with resighting intervals ranging from 0.76 to 12.92 years. Four whales originally photographed off Abrolhos Bank, Brazil were photographed off the Western Cape, South Africa (feeding grounds for B2). Two whales originally photographed off the Western Cape were photographed off Brazil, one traveling to the Eastern Cape in the Southwestern Indian Ocean (a migration corridor for C1) before migrating westward to Brazil. These findings photographically confirm interchange of humpback whales across the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans and the importance of international collaboration to understand population boundaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Angel Ramos
- Fundación Internacional para la Naturaleza y la Sustentabilidad, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico.
| | - Ted Cheeseman
- Happywhale, Santa Cruz, CA, USA.
- Marine Ecology Research Centre, Southern Cross University, Lismore, Australia.
| | | | | | | | - Simon Elwen
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Sea Search Research and Conservation, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | | | | | | | - Ken Findlay
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Centre for Sustainable Oceans, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Elisa Seyboth
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Centre for Sustainable Oceans, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Steven A McCue
- Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Branch Oceans and Coasts, V& A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Pieter G H Kotze
- Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Branch Oceans and Coasts, V& A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - S Mduduzi Seakamela
- Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Branch Oceans and Coasts, V& A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa
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3
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Song recordings suggest feeding ground sharing in Southern Hemisphere humpback whales. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13924. [PMID: 35978069 PMCID: PMC9385655 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17999-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean (ASSO) has one of the highest densities of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) compared to other polar and subpolar regions, which attracts migratory baleen whale species to aggregate in this area for feeding. Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) also sing extensively while on the Southern Ocean feeding grounds which allows for the exploration of song similarity between feeding grounds and breeding populations which helps to understand population mixing. The results of comparative song analyses between the ASSO and the Ecuadorian and Brazilian breeding populations and recordings from the Chilean, South African and Namibian migration routes/mid-latitude feeding grounds revealed that individuals from at least three humpback whale breeding populations most likely migrate to shared feeding grounds in the ASSO. Humpback whales from different populations potentially mix at different times (i.e., years) at feeding hotspots in variable locations. The ASSO seems to provide sufficient prey resources and seems to present an important area for both cultural and maybe even genetic exchange between populations supporting the maintenance of large gene pools. Assuming that multi-population feeding hotspots are also suitable habitat for krill and other krill-dependent predators, these areas in the ASSO should be carefully managed integrating population, ecosystem and fisheries management.
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Underwater Chatter for the Win: A First Assessment of Underwater Soundscapes in Two Bays along the Eastern Cape Coast of South Africa. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse10060746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In 2014, the South African government launched ‘Operation Phakisa’ under which port developments play a significant role in supporting ocean economic growth. These developments will likely increase vessel traffic to and from South African ports, making it imperative to monitor for changes in underwater sound budgets with potential negative effects on marine life. However, no soundscape studies have been conducted around South Africa, resulting in an absence of baseline measurements. This study provides a first description of the underwater soundscape in St. Francis Bay and Algoa Bay, Eastern Cape. Soundscape measurements identified major soundscape contributors, temporal patterns in broadband sound levels, and underlying environmental drivers. Applicability of modelled vessel noise and wind noise maps to predict large-scale spatial variation in sound budgets was assessed. Our study shows that sounds from biological sources and wind dominated at all recording sites, with fish choruses driving temporal patterns as a function of time of year and position of the sun. Sound from vessels was present at all sites but most notable in long-term spectral levels measured in Algoa Bay. Sound propagation models predicted a further increase in the contribution of vessel noise towards shipping lanes and east Algoa Bay. Our study provides a building block to monitor for shifts in sound budgets and temporal patterns in these two bays under a developing ocean economy. Furthermore, our study raises concerns that vessel noise is likely a significant contributor in shallow waters elsewhere along the South African coast where vessel density is known to be higher (i.e., Durban and Cape Town).
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Ross-Marsh EC, Elwen SH, Fearey J, Thompson KF, Maack T, Gridley T. Detection of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) non-song vocalizations around the Vema Seamount, southeast Atlantic Ocean. JASA EXPRESS LETTERS 2022; 2:041201. [PMID: 36154232 DOI: 10.1121/10.0010072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Humpback whales are a cosmopolitan, highly vocal species. Investigated here are their vocalizations recorded at the Vema Seamount (31°38'S, 08°20'E) from moored hydrophones in the austral spring of 2019. During the 11-d recording period over 600 non-song calls were detected. Calls were predominantly detected at night over three consecutive days. The most common calls were low, frequency-modulated sounds (whups). An impulsive sound (gunshot) previously unknown in humpback whales was also detected. The location and timing of the calls suggests that humpback whales may be using the Vema Seamount as a temporary stop on their migration to their polar feeding grounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- E C Ross-Marsh
- Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - S H Elwen
- Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - J Fearey
- Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation, Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - K F Thompson
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom
| | - T Maack
- Greenpeace Germany, Hongkongstrasse 10, 20457 Hamburg, Germany , , , , ,
| | - T Gridley
- Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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Social exploitation of extensive, ephemeral, environmentally controlled prey patches by supergroups of rorqual whales. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Humpback whale song recordings suggest common feeding ground occupation by multiple populations. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18806. [PMID: 34552129 PMCID: PMC8458523 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98295-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Humpback whale males are known to sing on their low-latitude breeding grounds, but it is well established that songs are also commonly produced ‘off-season’ on the feeding grounds or during migration. This opens exciting opportunities to investigate migratory aggregations, study humpback whale behavioral plasticity and potentially even assign individual singers to specific breeding grounds. In this study, we analyzed passive acoustic data from 13 recording positions and multiple years (2011–2018) within the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean (ASSO). Humpback whale song was detected at nine recording positions in five years. Most songs were recorded in May, austral fall, coinciding with the rapid increase in sea ice concentration at most recording positions. The spatio-temporal pattern in humpback whale singing activity on Southern Ocean feeding grounds is most likely shaped by local prey availability and humpback whale migratory strategies. Furthermore, the comparative analyses of song structures clearly show a differentiation of two song groups, of which one was solely recorded at the western edge of the ASSO and the other song group was recorded throughout the ASSO. This new finding suggests a common feeding ground occupation by multiple humpback whale populations in the ASSO, allowing for cultural and potentially even genetic exchange among populations.
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Multi-year presence of humpback whales in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean but not during El Niño. Commun Biol 2021; 4:790. [PMID: 34172834 PMCID: PMC8233365 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02332-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Humpback whales are thought to undertake annual migrations between their low latitude breeding grounds and high latitude feeding grounds. However, under specific conditions, humpback whales sometimes change their migratory destination or skip migration overall. Here we document the surprising persistent presence of humpback whales in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean during five years (2011, 2012, 2013, 2017, and 2018) using passive acoustic data. However, in the El Niño years 2015 and 2016, humpback whales were virtually absent. Our data show that humpback whales are systematically present in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean and suggest that these whales are particularly sensitive to climate oscillations which have profound effects on winds, sea ice extent, primary production, and especially krill productivity. Schall et al. use passive acoustic recordings of humpback whale calls to report the presence of humpback whales in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean between 2011 and 2018. This serves as the first long-term report of humpback whales on a Southern Ocean feeding ground, and their notable absence during the El Niño years of 2015 and 2016 indicates that the inter-annual variability in their acoustic presence is driven by large-scale climate variability.
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Hawkey JS, Elwen SH, James BS, Prinsloo AS, Gridley T. First look at humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) song structure from western South Africa. AFRICAN ZOOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2020.1796524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Simon Harvey Elwen
- Sea Search Research and Conservation NPO, Muizenberg, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Bridget Susan James
- Sea Search Research and Conservation NPO, Muizenberg, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Alexa Simone Prinsloo
- Sea Search Research and Conservation NPO, Muizenberg, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Tess Gridley
- Sea Search Research and Conservation NPO, Muizenberg, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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