A small number of eastern north Pacific gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus), known as the Pacific Coastal Feeding Group (PCFG) forage during the summer months in the coastal waters between California and Alaska. Although several studies have analyzed the population structure of the PCFG, maternal learning and predator/prey dynamics have not been studied in detail. In this study I characterize fine scale habitat use and site fidelity of eastern north Pacific gray whales in one foraging site within the PCFG’s foraging range. I approach this study by examining site fidelity to Clayoquot Sound in increasing detail at different time scales. Using the variability recorded in 17 field seasons of whale census surveys (1997-2013) as a proxy for fluctuations in prey, I suggest that the combination of physical properties of the study area and the life history characteristics of the primary prey species type enable Clayoquot Sound to persist as a foraging site through time. The analysis of photographic identification data collected between 1998-2013 indicates that Clayoquot Sound is one site within a larger foraging range, and that annual fluctuations in prey density are related to site fidelity and residency time. By identifying cow/calf pairs using photographic identification data collected between 1998-2013 I characterize internal recruitment via maternal learning within Clayoquot Sound. A calf’s site fidelity is related to its mother’s site fidelity, but its residency time is related to annual fluctuations in prey density. In contrast, a cow’s residency time is not related to changes in prey, but increases in duration when accompanied by a calf. The interplay between fluctuations in prey productivity, and the age and gender of individuals, are the variables that most likely influence the distribution of PCFG whales intra- and inter-annually. / Graduate / 0306
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uvic.ca/oai:dspace.library.uvic.ca:1828/6563 |
| Date | 26 August 2015 |
| Creators | Clare, Jacqueline Ann |
| Contributors | Duffus, David Allan |
| Source Sets | University of Victoria |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | Available to the World Wide Web, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ca/ |
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