Quantifying spatial and temporal variation of North Pacific fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) acoustic behavior

• DOI: 10.1111/mms.12640
• Publication Date: 2019-08-24T15:27:09Z
• Authors: Frederick I. Archer; Shannon Rankin; Kathleen M. Stafford; Manuel Castellote; Julien Delarue
• Keywords: Cetacea

Abstract In order to help develop hypotheses of connectivity among North Pacific fin whales, we examine recordings from 10 regions collected in the spring and fall. We a Random Forest model classify whale note types that avoids manual classification errors. also present method objectively quantifies pattern composition recordings. find near Hawaii have distinctive patterns, similar those found other central Pacific, suggesting potential migration pathways. Our results are consistent with previous studies suggest there may be two different populations utilizing Chukchi Sea Aleutians fall mix some degree southern Bering Sea. Conversely, little difference between eastern Gulf Alaska, residency whales this region. This is likely due fine scale similarities calls inshore British Columbia, while offshore areas being utilized by traveling various distant areas. study shows how our novel approach characterize an objective informative way standardize spatial temporal comparisons