Journal article
Estimating the cost of growth in southern right whales from drone photogrammetry data and long-term sighting histories
Marine Ecology Progress Series, Vol.687, pp.173-194
2022
Abstract
Animal body size and growth patterns play important roles in shaping the life history of species. Baleen whales include the largest animals on the planet, with somatic growth costs expected to be substantial. We used unmanned aerial vehicle photogrammetry and long-term individual sighting histories from photo identification (1991-2019) to estimate the cost of somatic growth for southern right whales (SRWs) Eubalaena australis. A Richards length-at-age growth model was developed, based on 161 calves, 20 yearlings, 1 juvenile and 23 adults, ranging in age from newborn to 27 yr. Predicted lengths were 4.7 m at birth, 12.5 m at minimum age of first parturition (6 yr) and an asymptotic length of 14.3 m. A volume-at-age curve was estimated from the body volume versus length relationship, and converted to a mass-at-age curve, using data on body tissue composition of North Pacific right whales E. japonica (n = 13). The energetic cost of growth was estimated using published estimates of tissue lipid and protein concentrations. The cost of growth for SRWs (in MJ d-1) was 2112 at birth, 544 at 4 mo, 314 at 1 yr (~weaning age), 108 at 5 yr (minimum age of sexual maturity), 51.5 at 10 yr and 5.2 at 30 yr. The cumulative cost to age 30 was 764.3 GJ, but varied widely (458-995 GJ) depending on the tissue energy content. Our estimates represent a healthy SRW population, and provide a baseline to investigate individual and population level impacts of anthropogenic disturbance (including climate change).
Details
- Title
- Estimating the cost of growth in southern right whales from drone photogrammetry data and long-term sighting histories
- Authors/Creators
- F. Christiansen (Author/Creator)L. Bejder (Author/Creator)S. Burnell (Author/Creator)R. Ward (Author/Creator)C. Charlton (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- Marine Ecology Progress Series, Vol.687, pp.173-194
- Publisher
- Inter-Research
- Identifiers
- 991005541452507891
- Copyright
- © 2022 Inter-Research.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.35 Zoology & Animal Ecology
- 3.35.796 Marine Mammal Ecology
- Web Of Science research areas
- Ecology
- Marine & Freshwater Biology
- Oceanography
- ESI research areas
- Environment/Ecology