A5091066687- Marine animal studies overview
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Arctic and Antarctic ice dynamics
- Underwater Acoustics Research
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Marine and fisheries research
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Arctic and Russian Policy Studies
- Maritime Navigation and Safety
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Maritime Transport Emissions and Efficiency
- Indigenous Studies and Ecology
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Ocean Acidification Effects and Responses
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
New England Aquarium
2005-2023
Cabot (United States)
2018-2023
Center for Coastal Studies
1999-2020
University of New Brunswick
2019
University of New Hampshire at Manchester
2009
Freeport-McMoRan (United States)
1999
University of Guelph
1991
The survival of North Atlantic right whales ( Eubalaena glacialis ) is seriously threatened by mortality caused ships and entanglements in fishing gear. Demographic modeling indicates that the population declining despite efforts to reduce anthropogenic mortalities, spite recent increases calving. authors this Policy Forum recommend immediate emergency management actions shipping entanglement mortalities whales, so as avoid a catastrophic decline inevitable extinction.
In the past decade, much progress has been made in real-time passive acoustic monitoring of marine mammal occurrence and distribution from autonomous platforms (e.g., gliders, floats, buoys), but current systems focus primarily on a single call type produced by species, often location. A hardware software system was developed to detect, classify, report 14 types 4 species baleen whales real time ocean gliders. During 3-week deployment central Gulf Maine late November early December 2012, two...
North Atlantic right whales, Eubalaena glacialis, remain endangered, primarily due to excessive anthropogenic mortality. Current management protocols in US waters are triggered by identifying the presence of at least one whale a area. We assessed whether acoustic detection contact calls can work as an alternative visual aerial surveys for establishing their presence. Aerial survey and monitoring were conducted Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts, 2001–2005 used evaluate compare detections. Over 58 d...
Species' response to rapid climate change can be measured through shifts in timing of recurring biological events, known as phenology. The Gulf Maine is one the most rapidly warming regions ocean, and thus an ideal system study phenological responses change. A better understanding climate-induced changes phenology needed effectively adaptively manage human-wildlife conflicts. Using data from a 20+ year marine mammal observation program, we tested hypothesis that large whale habitat use Cape...
Abstract Few studies have examined systematic relationships of right whales ( Eubalaena spp.) since the original species descriptions, even though they are one most endangered large whales. Little morphological evidence exists to support current designations for glacialis in northern hemisphere and E. australis southern hemisphere. Differences migratory behaviour or antitropical distribution between each considered a barrier gene flow maintain distinctions geographical populations. However,...
Bowhead whales generally migrate into high Arctic waters in the summer months and move to lower latitudes wintertime. During 1800s early 1900s commercial whaling greatly reduced numbers of bowhead adjacent North Atlantic Ocean. In recent decades their have been increasing. Thirteen sightings a whale were recorded four areas Gulf Maine 2012, 2014, 2017 between 44°43’N 41°36’N, far south normal range (54°N) for this species. Photographs obtained during these compared by experienced photo...
Abstract Commercial exploitation reduced the North Atlantic right whale ( Eubalaena glacialis ) population from c. 12 000 in 11th century to around 300 by 21st century. We examine effect of this decline on levels genetic variation at 16 microsatellite loci and contrast variability that a closely related species E. australis ). Of 13 developed genome, 100% were polymorphic . In contrast, nine four fixed. Both allelic diversity A heterozygosity H significantly lower than = 3.2 ± 2.6 vs. 6.9...
Abstract Parentage analyses of baleen whales are rare, and although mating systems have been hypothesized for some species, little data on realized male reproductive success available the patterns remained elusive most species. Here we combine over 20 years photo‐identification with high‐resolution genetic majority individual North Atlantic right to assess paternity in this endangered There was significant skew compared what would be expected if random ( P < 0.001). The difference due an...
The North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis (Müller, 1776), is one of the world's most endangered large cetaceans. It widely believed that Basque whalers caused dramatic decline this species in western during early-16th and 17th centuries. Previous osteological analysis 17 historic bones suggested 50% harvest consisted whales bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus L., 1758. This 50:50 ratio has been used to estimate pre-exploitation population size, which subsequently formed basis...
During the 16th and 17th centuries, Basque whalers travelled annually to Strait of Belle Isle Gulf St. Lawrence hunt whales. The hunting that occurred during this period is primary significance for North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis (Müller, 1776), because it has been interpreted as largest human-induced reduction western population, with ~12250–21 000 whales killed. It frequently reported Basques targeted two species in region: whale bowhead Balaena mysticetus L., 1758. To...
Photoidentifications and 11 years of sighting data revealed that only two-thirds the western North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) reproductive females took their calves to Bay Fundy, known summer nursery. Study cow–calf pairs further indicated female, a lesser extent male, were philopatric with respect this To examine population structure, mtDNA composite restriction morphs determined for 150 animals (47% population). Using enzymes, three identified. One morph was not found among...
Abstract Right whales carry large populations of three ‘whale lice’ ( Cyamus ovalis , gracilis erraticus ) that have no other hosts. We used sequence variation in the mitochondrial COI gene to ask (i) whether cyamid population structures might reveal associations among right whale individuals and subpopulations, (ii) divergences nominally conspecific species on North Atlantic, Pacific, southern Eubalaena glacialis, japonica, australis indicate their times separation, (iii) shapes trees...
A bstract DNA sequences of the mitochondrial control region 180 North Atlantic right whales ( Euhalaena glacialis ) and 16 South E. australis have been determined using a combination direct sequencing single stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. Five haplotypes were found in , 10 but none shared, supporting reproductive isolation separate species status whales. One haplotype E, was only three males born before 1982 this matriline will likely be lost soon. The nucleotide...
Abstract The population of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis , numbers approximately 336 individuals, and continues to decline. Current development implementation protection measures monitoring whale presence relies on visual surveys from vessel aerial platforms, passive acoustic monitoring, which contribute location data. Here we demonstrate that satellite imagery can be used detect confirm whales at a species level using newly available imaging...
We examined six historical specimens of the endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) using DNA isolated from documented baleen plates late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Sequences mitochondrial (mtDNA) control region these samples were compared with those a near-exhaustive survey (269 approximately 320 individuals) remaining whales in western Ocean. Our results suggest that there has been only relatively modest change maternal lineage diversity over past century...
Abstract Marine mammal social interactions are poorly understood primarily because of the difficulty observing these behaviors in wild. Observations copulations North Atlantic right whale surface active groups (SAGs) have led to hypothesis that function is for conception. The occurrence and composition SAGs sighted from 1992 2001 were investigated on basis age, sex, reproductive status individuals. A total 918 SAG events documented. observed all habitat areas months which whales sighted....
Abstract Although small populations are expected to lose genetic diversity through drift and inbreeding, a number of mechanisms exist that could minimize this decline. Examples include mate choice for unrelated mates fertilization patterns biased toward genetically dissimilar gametes. Both processes have been widely documented, but the long‐term implications received little attention. Here, we combined over 25 years field data with high‐resolution assess impacts in endangered North Atlantic...
Abstract The occurrence of North Atlantic right whales ( Eubalaena glacialis ) in Cape Cod Bay was documented during aerial surveys between 1998 and 2013. seasonal remained relatively unchanged the study, spanning January through mid‐May timeframe. number individual visiting positively correlated with increasing Best Cataloged Estimate (BCE), photographed alive, a maximum 2011 56.9% n = 277) BCE. However, rate increase individuals study significantly greater than that BCE (difference slope:...
The population of western North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) is distributed primarily between Florida, USA and NovaScotia, Canada, aggregating seasonally in five geographically distinct, high-use areas. To test the effectiveness monitoring alldemographic classes (juvenile adult males females) these habitat areas, an evaluation was carried out ofthe identification records catalogued collected 1980 1992, for which age, sex reproductive status (foradult were known. mean annual...
A bstract To test hypotheses involving reproduction and demographics, the sex of individuals must be established, but many species Cetacea are not obviously dimorphic. In North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis , population, 61 males 55 females had been determined previously by observation urogenital region, 43 more inferred from repeated sightings with a calf. confirm some these animals to identify mote animals, genomic DNA was isolated skin samples 95 individual whales (54 among...
Many long-term studies of wildlife populations rely on individual identification based natural markings or genetic profiling, both. However, only rarely are these 2 independent data sets systematically compared with each other to estimate the error rates inherent in studies. Here, >25 years photo-identification endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) were high-resolution profiles, available for >75% individuals catalog, order identify sources and errors associated both...
The North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) is the most endangered large in world and shows few signs of recovery despite over 60 years protection. In contrast, South (E. australis), a closely related species, appears to be recovering successfully. Using DNA extracted from skin biopsy samples two hypervariable minisatellite probes, we compared levels genetic diversity within populations. Our results revealed that unrelated (NA) whales exhibit significantly less variation than (SA)...