Thesis (M.S.)--Queen's University, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 91-101).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Duke University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1981. / Vita. Bibliography: leaves [241]-251.

Resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the Salish Sea use echolocation clicks to hunt for Chinook salmon, their preferred prey. An increase in underwater anthro- pogenic noise in recent decades has been identified as a threat to their survival due to auditory masking effects on these signals. Studies quantifying the effects of anthro- pogenic noise on echolocation signals have yet to be carried out due to a data gap for echolocation acoustic characteristics. In particular, to date, only one study has reported click characteristics for northern resident killer whales, and no results have been reported for southern residents. This thesis reports on acoustic recordings of resident killer whale echolocation clicks gathered over two summers in several loca- tions around Vancouver Island, and spectral and temporal characteristics extracted from them. Acoustic characteristics are reported separately for southern and north- ern resident killer whales based on 708 clicks from 19 click trains and 1277 clicks from 16 click trains, respectively. Results are further categorized into click type (slow, fast, and buzz clicks) based on inter-click interval, an indicator of foraging phase. Results show no differences in acoustic characteristics between the northern and southern killer whales, suggesting echolocation clicks do not vary between these subspecies. No significant differences are noted between slow- and fast-click characteristics, while buzz clicks appear to have some significant differences in characteristics from the oth- ers. Apparent source level values for northern and southern killer whales vary between 179-221 dB re 1 μPa at 1 m and 192-220 dB re 1 μPa at 1 m, respectively, based on the largest amplitude click from each click train (assumed to be directed towards the recording array). The values reported in this thesis will be used in subsequent noise modelling studies to quantify the effects of anthropogenic noise on resident killer whale ability to hunt for prey via echolocation signals. / Graduate

No description available.

No description available.

Commercial whale-watching has become an important aspect of global marine tourism. Rapid expansion during the 1990s has created a yearly US$1 billion industry, in which approximately 10 million people go whale-watching in nearly 90 countries. While the economic importance of whale-watching is well documented, there remain questions regarding ecological impacts on cetacean populations and the veracity of assumed educational benefits. These two problems call into question the label of ecotourism that is currently applied to whale-watching. Due to the knowledge gap regarding the ecological impact of whale-watching, science-based management of the activity is difficult. In some areas, whale-watching has become a vital aspect of the economy before managers have been able to participate in its development. In other areas, management has remained at arm's length, letting the industry grow without their participation. The objective of this dissertation is to critically review the current state of whale-watching management and its link to maintenance of sustainable cetacean populations. Research is mainly focussed on whale-watching in British Columbia, Canada. This dissertation is composed of three separate studies that examine different aspects of whale-watching management: 1) an analysis of global whale-watching protocols and a comparison of cetacean-human versus terrestrial wildlife-human interaction research, 2) a case study of the historical development, current state and future possibilities of whale-watching management in B.C., where the activity has occurred since the early 1980s, and 3) a human dimensions case study of whale-watchers in B.C. to assess the utility of social science research for whale-watching management. In the first study, whale-watching practices for 87 countries were examined. Sixty-one percent of countries where whale-watching exists do not, or appear to not, possess established whale-watching rules. The presence and developmental extent of whale-watching protocols is related to the number of whale-watchers, rate of increase during the 1990s, and the number of years whale-watching has existed, in a given area. The nature of existing whale-watching protocols is extremely variable. Minimum approach guidelines, the most common type of practice, show little relationship to size of the whale-watching industry, the general type of cetacean watched (large whales or dolphins), or the predominant activity of focal cetaceans (breeding, migration, feeding). The first study also compared cetacean-human and terrestrial wildlife-human research papers (n=47 for each). The cetacean-human interaction research was more narrowly focussed, made 20% more speculations, was dependant on overt behaviours observable from the surface, discussed limitations in only 7% of the studies, and did not make use of comparison to terrestrial research. Terrestrial wildlife-human interaction research made more use of physiological measurements and experimental research, which led to management recommendations in 86% of the papers. To be more effective in the future, cetacean-human interaction research needs to make more use of the technology available to measure physiological reactions and employ experimental research designs more often. In the second study, federal, provincial and whale-watching industry documents, personal interviews and participant observation, were used to create a historical record for the development of the whale-watching industry and its management in British Columbia. This historical record was then analysed, based on commons resource management theory, to identify strengths and weaknesses of current management and explore requirements for successful future management. Strengths identified were industry cooperation, self-regulation, a unified voice/forum in Southern Vancouver Island, and a foundation for more effective management. Weaknesses identified were the lack of biological purpose of whale-watching guidelines, and control of vessel behaviour. Successful whale-watching management in the future in B.C. is dependant on Fisheries and Oceans Canada entering into a co-management type regime, in which the experience and self-regulation guidelines of the existing whale-watching industry are taken into account in amendments to the Marine Mammal Regulations. In the third study, whale-watchers in British Columbia were surveyed at the three main whale-watching centres of Johnstone Strait, Tofino and Victoria (n=1617). Data was analysed for: 1) expectations, satisfactions, attitudes and demographics between whale-watching sites, 2) attitudes between pre-whale-watching and post-whale-watching trip groups, and 3) specialization in whale-watchers between sites. Johnstone Strait whale-watchers were the most satisfied, followed by Victoria, then Tofino respondents. Johnstone Strait whale-watchers possessed greater previous cetacean education and whale-watching experience, and displayed the most concern for whale management and general resource management issues, followed by Tofino, then Victoria participants. Although there were some significant differences in attitudes between pre- and post-trip groups, it was unclear whether the interpretation aboard the whale-watching vessels was responsible. Whale-watchers already displayed a high level of concern for cetacean and general resource management issues before embarking on whale-watching trips. A specialization index was developed to classify whale-watchers as Novice, Intermediate, Advance or Expert. The index revealed that 81.6% of whale-watchers were Novice or Intermediate, indicating that whale-watchers in B .C. are generalist-type whalewatchers, with little prior experience or knowledge. Johnstone Strait attracted the most Advance and Expert whale-watchers (34.9%), followed by Tofino (14.1%) and Victoria (9.4%). There is a relationship between increase in percentage of specialized whalewatchers and increase in distance from urban tourism centres. The study reveals that, due to the dominance of generalist whale-watchers in B.C., education needs to start with basic whale and marine ecology to develop a context on which to base more in-depth conservation issues. If whale-watchers are to become part of the management solution, education programs need to aim to develop a greater percentage of specialized whalewatchers. From this study, there are indications that whale-watching could provide a basis for the sustainable management of cetaceans in the future. However, more research needs to be undertaken towards the development of science-based management, and the development of education programs. In addition, management also needs to take ieto account the efforts of established self-regulated whale-watching industries. Currently, whale-watching management protocols are ad-hoc, inconsistent, and are not based in science. Minimum approach distances may not provide protection while researchers investigate the impact of vessel proximity to cetaceans; therefore minimum approach distances are pseudo-precautionary rather than precautionary. Due to the questions that remain regarding ecological impact and educational benefits, whale-watching can not currently be considered ecotourism.

Marine mammals are in a precarious conservation position because of anthropogenic impacts and historic perceptions that they are a consumable commodity. In light of changing abiotic conditions, further evaluation is needed on the habitat use, behavior, and interactions among marine mammals. Conservation legislation has helped protect species, but the greatest ground swelling may be the advent of the commercial whale watching industry. The feeding grounds in Alaskan waters have made this area a prime tourism location, and these nutrient-rich waters have resulted in a confluence of marine mammal species, including the appealing and abundant humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) that may associate with three ecotypes of killer whales (Orcinus orca). These species are interesting because they may travel together to feed on prey or be adversaries in a predator-prey relationship. Using whale watching as a platform, this study evaluated the effects of the presence of these two species separately and together, and of the type of interaction between them, on human perception. Data were collected via opportunistic observations and a retrospective pre- and post-survey instrument. Differences in humpback whale distribution and group size patterns were found relative to killer whale occurrence, although humpback whale behavioral states were unchanged. Changes in passenger conservation attitudes could not be attributed to species and behaviors but they were important determinates to whale watching satisfaction. Overall, more positive conservation attitudes and an increase in knowledge about marine mammals were reported after whale watching. These tours provide an opportunity for collecting meaningful scientific data and providing more in-depth education such as enhancing the appreciation for ecosystem services provided by marine mammals.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Central Florida, 2008. / Adviser: Graham A. J. Worthy. Includes bibliographical references.

The growing industry of whale-watching is allowing increasing numbers of people access to whales in their natural environment, and constitutes a non-consumptive use of the whales compared to whaling. At the same time, questions are often raised about the hidden effects of whale-watching on the whales. A population of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) which spends the summer feeding in Clayoquot Sound, on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, is regularly observed by whale-watchers from the nearby tourist centre of Tofino. Concern among whale-watching business operators and tourists about the possible effects of whale-watching on the feeding whales was heightened in the years preceding this study by an apparent northward movement of the whales, taking them farther from the Tofino, the point of departure for whale-watching tours. This study attempts to explain this apparent trend by finding out whether the whales' short-term behaviour is affected by the presence of whale-watching vessels, and by examining their short and long-term behaviour in the wider context of some of the features of their environment. Whales were observed from a small research vessel for three feeding seasons, in five locations within the area known as Clayoquot Sound. The whales' ventilations were recorded continuously and their location and the number of whale-watching vessels present was recorded at regular intervals. The whales' benthic prey was sampled in all three seasons and their planktonic prey in 1995. A series of variables were calculated from the ventilation data and compared to the number of vessels. The whales' dive behaviour was correlated much more strongly with feeding location than with vessel number. Even with these two factors taken into account, much of the variation in their behaviour remains unaccounted for. Because of this, although the behavioural change in the presence of vessels is statistically significant, there is reason to doubt whether it is biologically significant. The effects of feeding location are probably a composite of the effects of depth, prey type and other factors which are difficult to measure. Of the two main components, prey type appears to have a greater effect than depth on gray whale behaviour. Interaction exists between the effects of site and those of whale-watch vessels, meaning that the effects of vessels are different at different sites. The general pattern is that the effects of vessel presence are more pronounced in shallow sites than in deep, although there are some exceptions to this trend. Gray whale prey shows considerable variation in location, density and composition from year to year. The long-term patterns of gray whale habitat use more closely resemble a prey-selection-driven pattern than a pattern of avoidance of whale-watch vessels. The relatively small influence of vessel numbers on gray whale feeding behaviour suggests that the current guidelines in place for whale-watching vessels are effective in limiting disturbance of the whales. The variable nature of their prey supply suggests that gray whales use all the sites in Clayoquot Sound, and that the availability of a diverse selection of prey is necessary for their success in the tertiary feeding grounds. / Graduate