Journal article
Low energy expenditure and resting behaviour of humpback whale mother-calf pairs highlights conservation importance of sheltered breeding areas
Scientific Reports, Vol.9, Article No. 771
2019
Abstract
Understanding the behaviour of humpback whale mother-calf pairs and the acoustic environment on their breeding grounds is fundamental to assessing the biological and ecological requirements needed to ensure a successful migration and survival of calves. Therefore, on a breeding/resting ground, Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia, we used animal-borne DTAGs to quantify the fine-scale behaviour and energetic expenditure of humpback whale mothers and calves, while sound recorders measured the acoustic environment. We show that: (i) lactating humpback whales keep their energy expenditure low by devoting a significant amount of time to rest, and their use of energy, inferred from respiration rates, is ~half than that of adults on their foraging grounds; (ii) lactating females mainly rest while stationary at shallow depths within reach of the hull of commercial ships, thus increasing the potential for ship strike collisions; (iii) the soundscape is dominated by biological sources; and (iv) even moderate increases of noise from vessels will decrease the communication range of humpback whales. Planned commercial infrastructure in Exmouth Gulf will cause a substantial increase in shipping traffic with the risk of ship strikes and acoustic disturbance potentially compromising energy reserves for the southern migration of humpback whales.
Details
- Title
- Low energy expenditure and resting behaviour of humpback whale mother-calf pairs highlights conservation importance of sheltered breeding areas
- Authors/Creators
- L. Bejder (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityS. Videsen (Author/Creator)L. Hermannsen (Author/Creator) - Aarhus UniversityM. Simon (Author/Creator) - Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland.D. Hanf (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityP. T. Madsen (Author/Creator) - Aarhus University
- Publication Details
- Scientific Reports, Vol.9, Article No. 771
- Publisher
- Springer
- Identifiers
- 991005541123307891
- Copyright
- © 2019 Springer Nature Publishing AG
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Harry Butler Institute; School of Veterinary and Life Sciences
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Domestic collaboration
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- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.35 Zoology & Animal Ecology
- 3.35.796 Marine Mammal Ecology
- Web Of Science research areas
- Ecology
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- Multidisciplinary