Abstract
Off Australia, southern right whales (Eubalaena australis; SRWs) breed, give birth and nurse in shallow, coastal waters over the cooler months (~May/Jun to ~Oct/Nov). After which, whales migrate into the Southern Ocean to feed during the warmer months. The aim was to investigate i) coastal breeding within-season movements, ii) modern-day foraging ground
links, and iii) overlap among SRW populations. Whales were satellite tagged and biopsied in southwestern Australia in Sep 2022 and Aug 2023. Skin biopsy samples (n = 33) will be analysed for genetic and microchemical marker analyses. Satellite tag (n = 14) durations varied
from 6 to 375 days (mean = 156 days 2022, 44 days in 2023). The longest tag duration detailed a year in the life of an Australian SRW (“Nebinyan”, Sep 2022 to Sep 2023). Nebinyan migrated to Antarctica, and then back north towards southwestern Australia along the same
migration path. For the 2023 tagged whales, some whales remained in the same location (Cheyne Beach) for the duration of the breeding season, whereas others travelled large distances along the southern coast before migrating offshore. The longest transmission was 134 days, which provided insights that whales migrated to the Subtropical Front and the Kerguelen Islands, confirming findings from 2022-23. Sinuous movements indicated likely foraging locations off the Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, Antarctica, and the Subtropical Front. Future research will continue using state space modelling to investigate the use of oceanic
features and to examine overlap among SRW populations.
links, and iii) overlap among SRW populations. Whales were satellite tagged and biopsied in southwestern Australia in Sep 2022 and Aug 2023. Skin biopsy samples (n = 33) will be analysed for genetic and microchemical marker analyses. Satellite tag (n = 14) durations varied
from 6 to 375 days (mean = 156 days 2022, 44 days in 2023). The longest tag duration detailed a year in the life of an Australian SRW (“Nebinyan”, Sep 2022 to Sep 2023). Nebinyan migrated to Antarctica, and then back north towards southwestern Australia along the same
migration path. For the 2023 tagged whales, some whales remained in the same location (Cheyne Beach) for the duration of the breeding season, whereas others travelled large distances along the southern coast before migrating offshore. The longest transmission was 134 days, which provided insights that whales migrated to the Subtropical Front and the Kerguelen Islands, confirming findings from 2022-23. Sinuous movements indicated likely foraging locations off the Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, Antarctica, and the Subtropical Front. Future research will continue using state space modelling to investigate the use of oceanic
features and to examine overlap among SRW populations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Place of Publication | Bled, Slovenia |
| Publisher | International Whaling Commission |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Volume | SC/69B/SH/15 |
| Publication status | Published - 2024 |