Developing appropriate management plans for species at risk requires information about their population structure and abundance. For most cetacean populations, few reliable population estimates are available and even fewer distributions have been mapped. Accurate abundance estimates can be determined from capture-recapture data if assumptions are met, however this can be difficult when the animal in question demonstrates both strong site fidelity and large-scale migrations, and different models can result in dramatically different results. I explored these issues by examining a 15-year dataset (1992-2006) of photo-identifications of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in British Columbia (BC), Canada. I used multiple capture-recapture models to compare how the definition of population and variation in effort affected estimates of population size, and I explored means to correct for these biases. I also considered stock structure by examining individual breeding ground destinations, movement, and localized site-fidelity within BC. Across the six models considered, the BC humpback whale abundance in 2006 ranged between 1,428 and 3,856 individuals. The Lincoln-Petersen estimate (1,428-1,892) likely best described the number of humpback whales in BC during summer 2006. The effort-standardized Jolly-Seber model (1,970-2,331) is more representative of the larger population of humpback whales that uses or passes through BC over multiple years. Ultimately, selecting the best estimation model requires defining the ‘population’ of interest and accounting for spatial and temporal distribution of sampling effort. British Columbia provides feeding habitat and a potential migratory corridor for whales that breed in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Forty-four percent of the 1,986 humpback whales considered were sighted in BC in more than one year. Identifications were highest from May to October, with a peak in September, but humpback whales were present in BC in all months of the year. Whales showed strong site fidelity with a median re-sighting distance of 75 km between years, and a maximum re-sighting distance that ranged from 0.41 km to 842 km. Matching rate within BC decreased as a function of north-south distance, though no clear north-south boundary could be established. Stock structure of humpback whales in British Columbia is complex and should be considered in managing this population. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2017-04-03T22:03:33Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ThamiresCasagrande_DISSERT.pdf: 5017698 bytes, checksum: d1b39db5bf0fea4e08ace5ef9a725ffc (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-04-10T21:03:13Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ThamiresCasagrande_DISSERT.pdf: 5017698 bytes, checksum: d1b39db5bf0fea4e08ace5ef9a725ffc (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-10T21:03:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ThamiresCasagrande_DISSERT.pdf: 5017698 bytes, checksum: d1b39db5bf0fea4e08ace5ef9a725ffc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-04-07 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior (CAPES) / A exist?ncia de um padr?o repetitivo peri?dico de atividade vocal de baleias jubarte ao longo da temporada reprodutiva pode apoiar a hip?tese da exist?ncia de um ritmo biol?gico end?geno, ou ainda, elucidar como os zeitgebers bi?ticos ou abi?ticos poderiam modular a express?o do comportamento vocal desses animais, que ? t?o importante para o sucesso reprodutivo dos indiv?duos e manuten??o do tamanho e da sa?de da popula??o. Muitos estudos sobre atividade vocal de baleias jubarte tem investigado as altera??es no padr?o temporal e geogr?fico das can??es dos machos. Tal conhecimento pode contribuir para o manejo, elucidando como a express?o comportamental pode ser modulada sob a a??o dos fatores externos sobre o meio em que indiv?duo esteja inserido. Este conhecimento fornece, juntamente com outras informa??es sobre a hist?ria de vida, biologia e ecologia da esp?cie, subs?dios para a elabora??o de medidas de conserva??o que sejam mais bem-sucedidas. O objetivo desse trabalho foi verificar a exist?ncia de ritmo na ocorr?ncia de displays vocais de machos de baleia jubarte no entorno do Parque Nacional Marinho dos Abrolhos e se a presen?a de ru?do de barco afeta a atividade vocal. Para isso, foram utilizados dados ac?sticos anteriormente coletados no entorno do parque durante os anos de 2003, 2004 e 2005. Em 2005 o esfor?o foi dividido entre uma ?rea tratamento, similar aos anos anteriores e onde passam barcos de turismo frequentemente e uma ?rea controle com pouco tr?fego de barcos. As grava??es foram visual e auralmente inspecionadas atrav?s da ferramenta para MATLAB, XBAT, a cada 2 minutos e categorizadas como: presen?a ou aus?ncia de vocaliza??es de baleias jubarte e tamb?m de ru?dos de embarca??es. Foram realizadas an?lises espectrais, cosinor e teste de correla??o atrav?s de uma rotina elaborada em MATLAB. Nossos resultados mostram a exist?ncia de um padr?o de atividade vocal para todos os anos mas ausente na ?rea controle em 2005. Uma maior atividade vocal foi observada entre os hor?rios de 15:00 da tarde e 10:00 da manh?. Por?m o mesmo padr?o n?o p?de ser observado para todos os meses amostrados da ?rea controle de 2005, na qual o tr?fego de embarca??es era bem reduzido. Quando analisado o padr?o temporal das embarca??es, o maior n?mero de ru?dos se encontravam entre as 10:00 e 15:00 revelando uma correla??o negativa entre o ru?do de embarca??es e a atividade vocal. O que pode sinalizar que devido ao ru?do dos motores das embarca??es mascarar energeticamente os sinais vocais baleias jubarte em resposta evitam vocalizar em hor?rios de maior intensidade sonora, organizando-se temporalmente. / Many studies of vocal activity of humpback whales have focused on investigating the temporal and geographical pattern changes in the male song. This knowledge can contribute to the species management, explaining how the behavioral traits are modulated by external factors of the environment in which the individual is inserted. This knowledge associated with information about the life history, biology and ecology of the species, provides the development of more successful conservation measures. Determining the existence of a periodic pattern of vocal activity of male humpback whales along the breeding season may support the hypothesis of endogenous biological rhythms, or how the biotic or abiotic zeitgebers could modulate the expression of the vocal behavior of these animals, which is so important for their reproductive success and maintainance of a increasing and healthy population. The aim of this study was to verify the existence of such rhythm in the occurrence of male vocal displays in the vicinity of the National Marine Park of Abrolhos. For this, we used acoustic data previously collected during the years 2003, 2004 and 2005. In 2005 the effort was divided into two areas, a treatment area where whale watching boat traffic is frequent similar located in the same general area to the previous years and a control area with rare boat traffic. The recordings were visually and aurally inspected every 2 minutes using XBAT an application that runs in MATLAB. These 2-minute samples were categorized as: presence or absence of humpback vocal activity and also vessel noise. Spectral analyzes were performed using Cosinor and a correlation test through a routine developed in MATLAB. Our results show the existence of a vocal activity pattern for all years in the treatment area, but not in the control area. Vocal activity concentrated between 15:00 pm and 10:00 am. The same pattern was not observed in all months of 2005 in the control area where the boat traffic is reduced. Coincidentally, the temporal pattern of vessel noise was highest between 10:00am and 15:00pm revealing a negative correlation with male vocal displays. Motorboat noise not only mask humpback male vocal displays but also the endogenous rhythm of vocal activity of humpback whales. Because of the masking caused by motorboat noise in male vocal displays, they avoid higher sound intensity schedules, organizing themselves in time.

Dissertação(mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Programa de Pós–Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, 2013. / Submitted by Cristiane Gomides (cristiane_gomides@hotmail.com) on 2013-10-09T18:43:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Heloise.pdf: 1525937 bytes, checksum: 44441e69ced9544eaba26ec6b8f8e2d9 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Sabrina Andrade (sabrinabeatriz@ibest.com.br) on 2013-10-17T03:12:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Heloise.pdf: 1525937 bytes, checksum: 44441e69ced9544eaba26ec6b8f8e2d9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-10-17T03:12:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Heloise.pdf: 1525937 bytes, checksum: 44441e69ced9544eaba26ec6b8f8e2d9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / População é a unidade fundamental da conservação e sua forma mais simples de monitoramento envolve a amostragem temporal regular para a determinação do status populacional. Uma das populações de baleia jubarte do Hemisfério Sul utiliza a costa do Brasil entre maio e dezembro para se reprodução e criação dos filhotes. Esta população, denominada “estoque reprodutivo A” pela Comissão Internacional da Baleia, tem mostrado sinais de recuperação após um marcado declínio devido a caça e um longo período de moratória. Esta população se concentra principalmente no Banco dos Abrolhos (BA), onde águas calmas e quentes parecem constituir um hábitat ideal. Este estudo teve o objetivo de estimar o tamanho da população de jubartes para o ano de 2011, bem como predizer a distribuição de grupos na costa brasileira. O método de amostragem de distâncias foi implementado, e modelos hierárquicos Bayesianos foram propostos para estimar a abundância. Modelos auto-regressivos condicionais foram aplicados para predizer a densidade em células de 0.5° de latitude e longitude. O tamanho da população foi estimado em 10,160 baleias (Cr.I.95%=6,607-17,692). As maiores densidades foram encontradas entre o Banco dos Abrolhos e a Baía de Todos os Santos (BA). Os resultados sugerem que o aumento populacional acarreta a expansão da população para além do Banco dos Abrolhos. / Population is the fundamental unit of conservation and its simplest monitoring tool involves regular sampling over time for population assessing status. One of the Southern Hemisphere humpback whale populations winters at the Brazilian coast typically from May to December where breeding and calving occur. This population, labeled as “breeding stock A” by International Whaling Commission, has shown signs of recovery after the long period of whaling. The goal of this study was to estimate the population size of humpback whales up to 2011, and predict group distribution along the Brazilian coast. Distance sampling methods were implemented and hierarchical Bayesian models were proposed to estimate abundance. Conditional auto-regressive models were used to predict the density in a lattice of 0.5° of latitude and longitude. Population size was estimated at 10,160 whales (Cr.I.95%=6,607-17,692). Highest densities were predicted to occur between Abrolhos Bank and Todos os Santos Bay (BA). The results suggest that the population increase leads to a population expansion beyond Abrolhos Bank.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-03-30T19:57:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 marialuizapachecodegodoy.pdf: 947462 bytes, checksum: 7f3440dade9193ef6c9954130cbfbd98 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-04-03T19:00:23Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 marialuizapachecodegodoy.pdf: 947462 bytes, checksum: 7f3440dade9193ef6c9954130cbfbd98 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-03T19:00:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 marialuizapachecodegodoy.pdf: 947462 bytes, checksum: 7f3440dade9193ef6c9954130cbfbd98 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-03-27 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A caça comercial desenvolvida no início do século XX dizimou populações de baleias jubarte (Megaptera novaeangliae) em muitas regiões do oceano Antártico, entre elas os arredores da ilha Geórgia do Sul. Recentemente, este local foi confirmado como destino migratório das jubartes que se concentram no banco dos Abrolhos, situado entre a Bahia e Espírito Santo, durante a estação de reprodução. Embora em fase de crescimento populacional, este estoque pode apresentar sobrecargas ecológicas tais como alterações na taxa de nascimentos em conseqüência da intensa exploração a que foram submetidos. Este estudo objetivou o levantamento de informações a respeito das taxas brutas de nascimento e de fertilidade de baleias jubarte entre os anos de 1992 e 2003. Como parte desse trabalho, informações sobre comportamento e composição social de animais foto-identificados entre 1989 e 2003, foram relacionadas à probabilidade de captura dos indivíduos. Seus efeitos nas análises de Marcação e Recaptura também foram considerados. O teste G revelou diferenças significativas entre as taxas brutas de nascimento ao longo dos anos, tanto para os registros de foto-identificação (Média = 0,054 ± 0,012; p<0,001) quanto para as informações provenientes de observações a bordo de cruzeiros de pesquisa (Média = 0,192 ± 0,05; p<0,001). Já as taxas de fertilidade se mostraram semelhantes ao longo de todo o período de estudo (Média = 0,87± 0,12; p>0,05). Este trabalho identificou diferenças significativas na probabilidade de captura por fotografia dos indivíduos de acordo com o status reprodutivo (H= 25,01; p = 0,003). A capturabilidade também diferiu em relação ao número de componentes de um grupo, onde associações de até três indivíduos apresentaram probabilidade de captura significativamente maior em relação aos grupos compostos por mais de quatro indivíduos (U = 16; p<0,05). Os resultados aqui identificados revelaram que a maior probabilidade de captura no banco dos Abrolhos se dá em grupos constituídos por três adultos, o que difere de outras áreas de reprodução como Silver Bank, no oceano Atlântico norte, onde os solitários apresentaram maior capturabilidade. / The commercial whaling developed during the XX century dizimated many humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) populations of Southern Hemisphere. One of them, found around South Georgia Island, is known to migrate to the Brazilian coast during the breeding season. The intense past exploration have resulted in ecological trends such as changes in reproductive rates. Photo-identification and ship surveys conducted at Abrolhos Bank from 1989 to 2003 were analyzed with the main goal to evaluate how these values are changing over the years. The crude birth rate differed significantly by year (Cruise surveys: Mean = 0,192 ± 0,05; G Test, p<0,001/ Photo-identification: Mean = 0,054 ± 0,012; G Test, p<0,001). Nevertheless, the calving rate showed no significant differences by year (Mean = 0,87± 0,12; G Test; p>0,05). This study verified significant differences in catchability related to the reproductive status (H = 25,01; p = 0,003) and number of individuals composing a group. Associations with three or less individuals showed higher catchability compared to groups composed by four and more animals (U = 16; p<0,05). The highest probability of a whale from Abrolhos Bank be photo-identified was in a group composed by three adults.

Le sanctuaire Agoa est une aire marine protégée dans la zone économique exclusive (ZEE) des Antilles françaises qui fut créée en 2010 pour la conservation des mammifères marins et de leurs habitats. Il est connu que le rorqual à bosse fréquente les eaux des Antilles de décembre à mai pour la reproduction et la mise bas. Par contre, peu d’information existe sur l’abondance, le comportement, la distribution et les pressions anthropiques sur cette espèce aux Antilles et encore moins dans le sanctuaire. Cette maîtrise s’intéresse principalement à connaître cette espèce dans un secteur précis de cette aire marine et les liens qu’elle entretient avec certains utilisateurs humains de son habitat. Le tout vise à informer les intervenants en place, autant institutionnels qu’utilisateurs, vers une mise en place de mesures de conservation adaptées. Un suivi terrestre hivernal de plus de 300 heures, en 2012 et 2013, a permis de déterminer l’utilisation de l’habitat et les pressions anthropiques sur une population de rorquals à bosse fréquentant le sud de la péninsule de la Pointe-des-Châteaux en Guadeloupe. Il s’agit du premier suivi terrestre de cette espèce aux Antilles françaises et un des premiers dans l'arc caribéen. La zone d’étude couvre environ 264 km2 et serait une des zones les plus fréquentées de l’archipel guadeloupéen par l’espèce. À l’aide d’un théodolite, la trajectoire de 107 groupes différents (137,8 heures, 699 remontées) a été décrite. Les résultats montrent que la zone d’étude est principalement fréquentée en mars et avril, avec une abondance maximale au début du mois d’avril. La forte présence de baleineaux, particulièrement au mois de mars, pousse à croire que cette zone est utilisée comme pouponnière. Le comportement n’est pas aléatoire dans la zone d’étude et les trajectoires convergent vers certaines zones ayant possiblement un lien avec la bathymétrie. De plus, la zone marine à proximité de la Pointe-des-Châteaux pourrait potentiellement être un lieu de convergence des groupes. Ceux-ci se déplacent à vitesse réduite en direction ENE en général, à l’exception des femelles accompagnées de baleineaux qui prennent une orientation tout autre, c’est-à-dire vers le ONO, et ce à plus grande vitesse. Bien que la pression d’observation soit considérée comme modérée, une forte proportion des remontées se trouve dans les corridors de navigation présents dans la zone d’étude. De plus, le corridor de navigation des navettes entre Saint-François et La Désirade comporte le plus grand risque relatif de collision mortelle. Une réduction de vitesse des embarcations fréquentant le corridor des navettes diminuerait significativement le risque de collision mortelle. Ces pistes de réflexion mèneront sans doute à d’autres études plus poussées afin de continuer à en apprendre sur l’écologie de cette espèce fascinante. / The Agoa sanctuary, a marine protected area (MPO) covering the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the French Caribbean, was created in 2010 to protect marine mammals and their habitats. It is known that the Caribbean islands are used from December to May by humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) as a reproductive area. However, sparse information exists on the abundance, the behaviour, the distribution and the anthropogenic pressures on this species in the Caribbean and even less in the sanctuary. This thesis focuses on increasing scientific knowledge about this species’ use of a part of the Agoa Sanctuary and their interactions with human users of the MPO. Such knowledge may inform stakeholders’ (institutional and individual) decision-making towards implementation of appropriate conservation measures. A land-based survey of more than 300 hours, in 2012 and 2013, was carried out to determine the habitat use of, and anthropogenic pressures on, a population of humpback whales frequenting the surrounding water of the Pointe-des-Châteaux peninsula in Guadeloupe. This is the first land-based survey of this species in the French West Indies and one of the first in the Caribbean. The study area of approximately 264 square kilometres is one of the most visited areas by this species in the Guadeloupe archipelago. Using a theodolite, 107 trajectories (i.e. groups of whales) were recorded, representing 137.8 hours and 699 surfacings. Results show that the abundance was higher in March and April with a peak in the first week of April. The high proportion of calves in this population, mainly in March, suggest that the study zone is a nursing area. Overall movement patterns are not random and may possibly be dictated by the bathymetry. Furthermore, trajectories seem to converge close to the Pointe-des-Châteaux. The average movement is slow and oriented in the same direction as the dominant current to the west of the Pointe-des-Châteaux (i.e. ENE), except for mother and calf groups that swim faster in the opposite direction (i.e. WNW). Even if the anthropogenic pressure may be consided as moderate, a high proportion of surfacing is located in some of the main maritime traffic corridors. In addition, the shuttle corridor between Saint-Francois and Désirade island has the greatest relative risk of fatal collision. A reduced speed for the shuttle corridor would lower significantly the collision risk. These findings may lead to more extensive studies to better understand the ecology of this fascinating species.

No description available.

Data collected during boat-based and aerial surveys were used to describe population structure, movements, temporal patterns of migration and skin condition of humpback whales in breeding sub-stock C1-S off southern Africa. Results confirmed that the migration route along the south coast of South Africa is linked to the winter ground off Mozambique. A lack of exchange between breeding sub-stocks C1-N and C1-S was found, suggesting that these are independent of each other. Molecular analysis revealed unexpected levels of population structure between the migration route and the winter ground of C1-S, as well as the possibility that this migration route is also utilised by some individuals from breeding sub-stock C3. A skin condition of unknown aetiology that primarily affects humpback whale mother-calf pairs was identified. The first assessment of its prevalence and severity was made, providing a baseline for future monitoring. Humpback whale abundance in an inshore region of Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique was estimated and attempts were also made to use the limited information off Plettenberg Bay/Knysna, South Africa. In addition to improving our understanding of humpback whales from Breeding Stock C, knowledge about another baleen whale species utilising the southwest Indian Ocean was extended. The first evidence of southern right whale presence off the coast of Mozambique since the cessation of whaling was documented. It remains unknown whether this is a remnant sub-stock or the recovering South African sub-stock reoccupying its historical range.