Japan Progress Report on Small Cetacean

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Japan Progress Report on Small Cetacean Japan Progrep. SM/2001 JAPAN PROGRESS REPORT ON SMALL CETACEAN RESEARCHES May 2000 to May 2001 (compiled by) Toshihide Iwasaki and Hidehiro Kato National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, 5-7-1, Orido, Shimizu, Shizuoka 424-8633, Japan This report summarizes small cetacean fisheries and researches conducted during period from May 2000 to May 2001 by the National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries (hereafter NRIFSF) and the Fisheries Agency of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Government of Japan (hereafter FAJ) with cooperation of other related organizations. This report covers information on small cetaceans which does not included in the Japan Progress Reprot on Cetacean Research May 2000 to May 2001 which is submitted to 53rd IWC/SC meeting. 1. Species and stocks studied Following species and stocks of small cetaceans were studied by NRIFSF and FAJ: Common name Scientific name Area/stock(s) Items referred to Baird’s beaked whale Berardius bairdii Off Pacific coast, Sea of 4.2, 4.4, 7.1, 8 Japan, Okhotsk Sea Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala Off Pacific coast, western 3.2, 4.2, 4.4, macrorhynchus North Pacific 7.1, 8 False killer whale Pseudorca crassidens Off Pacific coast 7.1 Killer whale Orcinus orca Antarctic, North Pacific 4.1, 8 off Pacific coast Striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba Off Pacific coast, Western 3.1.2, 3.2, 4.1, North pacific 4.2, 4.4, 5, 7.1, 8 Dall’s porpoise Phocoenoides dalli Off Pacific coast, 4.2, 4.4, 7.1, 8 Okhotsk Sea, Sea of Japan Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus Kagoshima Bay, off 2.1.1, 3.1.1, Pacific coast 3.2, 4.2, 4.4, 5, 7.1 Spotted dolphin Stenella attenuata Off Pacific coast 3.2, 4.2, 4.4, 7.1 Finless porpoise Neophocena phocenoides Coastal waters of Japan 7.1, 8 Risso’s dolphin Grampus griseus Western North Pacific 3.2, 4.2, 4.4, 5, 7.1, 8 Additional species taken - Off Pacific coast, Sea of 2.1.1, 2.1.2, or sighted during Okhotsk 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, dolphin fisheries or 4.4, 7.1, small type whaling operation Additional species - North Pacific, Sea of 2.1.1, 2.1.2, sighted during the Okhotsk, Southern 4.1 sighting cruise Hemisphere Additional species - Around Japan 4.3, 8 stranded 1 2.Sighting data (this section overlap with description of sighting data in SC/53/Japan /Progrep.) 2.1 Field work 2.1.1 Systematic Regardless of the target species of sighting cruises, sightings of small cetaceans were recorded. The NRIFSF and FAJ conducted a total of nine sighting and related surveys from May 2000 to March 2001 in the North Pacific and the Southern Hemisphere. Those are seven cruises in the former water and two in the latter. All of the vessels except one vessel are equipped with a top barrel. Names of the vessels, scientists on board, and period of each cruise are given in Table 1. The IWC/SOWER Antarctic sighting cruise was conducted under auspices of the IWC/SOWER (Southern Ocean Whale and Ecosystem Research) program from 5 January 2001 to 5 March 2001. This cruise consisted of the blue whale research component, the minke whale assessment component. The main purpose of blue whale component was to obtain scientific information relevant to developing shipboard identification methods for separating “true” blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia) from “pygmy” blue whales (B. m. brevicauda). For this purpose, acoustic survey, skin biopsy, digital video recording and photo-identification were prepared in addition to sighting survey. The government of Japan offered two research vessels (Shonan-maru and Shonan-maru #2) and crew for this program, as has been the case for the last 23 years. H. Kato (NRIFSF) acted as an organizer of the cruise and as a member of the steering group of the program. Weather conditions were about average and good survey coverage was obtained on the constructed cruise tracks of minke whale component in AreaⅥE andⅠW (110-140W) for 38 days. Six sightings (16 animals) of true blue whale were encountered during the survey. P. Ensor (New Zealand) acted as a cruise leader. K. Matsuoka (Japan) participated in the cruise as senior scientist, Marques (Brazil), Murase (Japan), Pitman (USA), Waerebeek (Peru) as researchers. The details of the cruise and results will be separately reported at the 53rd IWC/SC meeting. In the North Pacific, of a total seven cruises, the five cruises mainly engaged in sighting survey with skin biopsy at opportunistic base. Miyashita (NRIFSF) and Shimada worked in planning, track designs, searching methods of all the above cruises. Total searching distances made during the cruises were 6,978 n.miles, 7,243 n.miles and 5,700 n.miles for the Southern Hemisphere, the North Pacific in summer and the North Pacific from autumn to winter, respectively. During these cruises, minke whale cruise was oversighted by Miyashita and S.Nishiwaki, (ICR) and Bryde's whale by Shimada. In addition, systematic sighing data were also obtained from the other two cruises for biopsy and marking. The results from the offshore sighting cruises are given in Tables 2, 3 (surveys in summer season) and 4 (in winter season). Under cooperative program with the Republic of Korea, two cruises were conducted by both countries; one by R/V Kurosaki and another by R/V Tamgu 3 (Korea). Kurosaki investigated coastal waters off the western Japan in the Sea of Japan from 4 May to 12 June. On the other hand, Tamgu 3 investigated coastal waters off southeast coast of the Korean Peninsula, 9 May – 2 June. The cruises were conducted under Z.G. Kim (National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Republic of Korea), Yoshida, H.(ICR) joined the cruise from 20 May to 2 June. Under the cooperation among the NRIFSF, Kochi prefecture government (KPG) and the Whale Watching Association in Tosa Bay (WATB), the sighting surveys on Bryde’s whales were conducted in the coastal waters off Kochi in October 2000, using 20 whale watching boats that belong to the WATB. The survey lasted ten days and T. Kishiro (NRIFSF), three research assistants (Kagoshima University and Tokyo University of Fisheries) and the total of 20 members of WATB acted as the researchers on board. A total of eight schools (16 individuals) of Bryde’s whales were detected during the survey. The sighting surveys on Bryde’s whales were also conducted in the coastal waters off 2 Kasasa, Southwest end of Kyushu, in September 2000, under the cooperation among the NRIFSF, Kagoshima prefecture government (KAPG), and Nomaike Fishery Cooperative Union (NFCU). Two to three whale watching boats (belong to the NFCU) were used as the research vessels. The surveys lasted 6 days. Kishiro and 12 research assistants (Kagoshima University) acted as the researchers on board. A total of 13 schools (40 individuals) of Bryde’s whales were detected during the surveys. The coastal sighting surveys were also conducted for bottlenose dolphins in Kagoshima Bay in October 2000 and February 2001 (using 2-6 boats in each day, Kishiro, N. Kubo (Kagoshima Aquarium) and 22 research assistants (Kagoshima University and Kagoshima Aquarium) acted as the researchers on board. Each survey lasted 5-6 days. A total of 3 schools (110 individuals) of bottlenose dolphins and nine schools (483 individuals) of Delphinus species were detected during the two surveys. The Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) and NRIFSF conducted the non-lethal survey using R/V Torishima in waters surrounding Ogasawara Islands, Japan during 10 November-25 December 2000, in order to obtain information on winter feeding and breeding ecology of large cetaceans, i.e., sperm, Bryde’s, and minke whales which are target species of JARPN II. H. Yoshida (ICR) joined the survey and sighted 49 schools of cetaceans including 15 of sperm whales and one of sei whales during research of 2266.9 n.miles, though Bryde’s and minke whales were not detected. For the sperm and sei whales, swimming behavior was observed for total of 17 hours and 58 minutes. To attach satellite tags, three sperm whale schools were pursued and tags were launched 13 times, whereas no tags were attached successfully. For skin biopsy, darts were launched 16 times to five schools of sperm and one of sei whales, which resulted in two samples of sperm whales. The ICR and NRIFSF conducted sighting surveys with Caribbean scientists in the Caribbean Sea, in order to obtain information on distribution of cetaceans, especially humpback whales. H. Yoshida (ICR) participated in pre-survey meetings held in Dominica and St. Lucia and then joined in sighting survey conducted in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada during 3 -11 April 2001. Four schools of cetaceans (three schools of bottlenose dolphins and a solitary humpback whale) were sighted during the research of 349 n.miles. The humpback whale went to the north at high speed. Acoustic survey using a hydrophone was conducted at 30 points and sound of humpback whales was recorded successfully at two points. The results from the offshore sighting cruises and the coastal whale sighting surveys off Kochi and Kasasa are given in Tables 2, 3 (surveys in summer season) and 4 (in winter season). 2.1.2 Opportunistic, platforms of opportunity Opportunistic sighting data have been collected during operations by the small type whaling and by dolphin fisheries. Under the cooperation among NRIFSF, Nomaike Fishery Cooperative Union (NFCU) and Faculty of Fisheries, Kagoshima University opportunistic sighting data of Bryde’s whales have been collected during the whale watching operations in the coastal waters off Kasasa, southwest end of Kyushu.
Recommended publications
  • Cetacean Occurrence in the Gulf of Alaska from Long-Term Passive
    Marine Biology (2021) 168:72 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-021-03884-1 ORIGINAL PAPER Cetacean occurrence in the Gulf of Alaska from long‑term passive acoustic monitoring Ally Rice1 · Ana Širović1,2 · Jennifer S. Trickey1 · Amanda J. Debich1,3 · Rachel S. Gottlieb1 · Sean M. Wiggins1 · John A. Hildebrand1 · Simone Baumann‑Pickering1 Received: 23 November 2020 / Accepted: 11 April 2021 © The Author(s) 2021 Abstract The Gulf of Alaska is an important habitat for a diverse array of marine mammals, many of which were severely depleted by historical whaling. To study current cetacean distributions in this region, passive acoustic monitoring was used to detect species-specifc call types between 2011 and 2015 at fve locations spanning the continental shelf, slope, and ofshore sea- mounts. Spatial and temporal detection patterns were examined for nine species to compare diferences in behavior and habitat use. Mysticetes showed seasonal increases in calling that indicated possible behavioral shifts between feeding and breeding in blue (Balaenoptera musculus), fn (B. physalus), and humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) whales, and matched known migration timing of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus). Interannual changes in blue and fn whale calling may relate to the marine heat wave that began in 2013 and lasted through the end of the monitoring period. Odontocete detections revealed unique spatial distributions, with killer whales (Orcinus orca) most common on the continental shelf and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) most common on the continental slope, where detections occurred year-round. Beaked whales showed both spatial and temporal separation: Baird’s beaked whale (Berardius bairdii) detections were highest at Quinn Seamount in the spring, Cuvier’s (Ziphius cavirostris) at Pratt Seamount in winter, and Stejneger’s (Mesoplodon stejnegeri) on the continental slope in the fall.
    [Show full text]
  • Wint03 Whales
    FAMILY NATURE NOTES WINTER 2003 Written by Kerry Everitt Design and illustrations by Judie Shore Did you know that the largest species of mammal in the world is found just off the coast of Canada? humpback Whales mother and Giants of the Ocean calf Way up north, in the Canadian Arctic, you can see narwhals and bow- head whales. Hundreds of beluga whales live quite close to us here in Ontario in the St. Lawrence River and farther north in Hudson Bay. Humpback whales, minke whales, fin whales and the gigantic blue whale can be found along both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Although they live entirely in the water, whales, dolphins and porpoises are actually mammals. These sorts of mammals are called cetaceans. Unlike insects, which have millions of different species, there are only about 80 species of cetaceans worldwide. Whales of all shapes and sizes are found in every ocean from the warm tropics to the icy poles. Millions of years ago, when mammals first evolved, they lived on land. How and why ancestors of the whales moved from their terrestrial habitat into the seas and oceans is unknown. About 55 million years ago, a group of mammals moved into the shallow marine environment. Gradually these creatures evolved and adapted to their new watery habitat and became the whales we know today. Their nostrils moved to the top of their heads (now called blowholes), and they developed strong tails for swimming. Their front legs transformed into flippers, and their hind legs completely disappeared. In some whales you can still find leg bones called vestigial bones, remnants of the time when these creatures were land mammals and walked on four legs.
    [Show full text]
  • Sustained Disruption of Narwhal Habitat Use and Behavior in The
    Sustained disruption of narwhal habitat use and behavior in the presence of Arctic killer whales Greg A. Breeda,1, Cory J. D. Matthewsb, Marianne Marcouxb, Jeff W. Higdonc, Bernard LeBlancd, Stephen D. Petersene, Jack Orrb, Natalie R. Reinhartf, and Steven H. Fergusonb aInstitute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775; bArctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N6; cHigdon Wildlife Consulting, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3G 3C9; dFisheries Management, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Quebec, QC, Canada G1K 7Y7; eAssiniboine Park Zoo, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3R 0B8; and fDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N2 Edited by James A. Estes, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, and approved January 10, 2017 (received for review July 17, 2016) Although predators influence behavior of prey, analyses of elec- Electronic tracking tags are also frequently used to track verte- tronic tracking data in marine environments rarely consider how brates in marine systems. Although there is evidence that marine predators affect the behavior of tracked animals. We collected animals adjust their behavior under predation threat (21, 22, 12), an unprecedented dataset by synchronously tracking predator few data or analyses exist showing how predators affect the (killer whales, N = 1; representing a family group) and prey movement of tracked marine animals. These data are lacking (narwhal, N = 7) via satellite telemetry in Admiralty Inlet, a because marine environments are more difficult to observe and large fjord in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. Analyzing the move- tracked animals often move over scales much larger than their ment data with a switching-state space model and a series of terrestrial counterparts, making it difficult to measure predator mixed effects models, we show that the presence of killer whales density in situations where tracking tags are deployed on prey.
    [Show full text]
  • Balaenoptera Bonaerensis – Antarctic Minke Whale
    Balaenoptera bonaerensis – Antarctic Minke Whale compared to B. bonaerensis. This smaller form, termed the “Dwarf” Minke Whale, may be genetically different from B. bonaerensis, and more closely related to the North Pacific Minke Whales, and thus has been classified B. acutorostrata (Wada et al. 1991; IWC 2001). This taxonomic position, although somewhat controversial, has been accepted by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). Assessment Rationale The current IWC global estimate of abundance of Antarctic Dr. Meike Scheidat Minke Whales is about 500,000 individuals. The abundance estimates declined from about 700,000 for the second circumpolar set of abundance survey cruises Regional Red List status (2016) Least Concern* (1985/86 to 1990/91) to about 500,000 for the third National Red List status (2004) Least Concern (1991/92 to 2003/04). Although this decline was not statistically significant, the IWC Scientific Committee does Reasons for change No change consider these results to reflect a change. However, Global Red List status (2008) Data Deficient whether this change is genuine or attributed to greater proportions of pack ice limiting the survey extent, has not TOPS listing (NEMBA) (2007) None yet been determined. More detailed results from an CITES listing (1986) Appendix I assessment model are available for the mid-Indian to the mid-Pacific region, and suggest that the population Endemic No increased to a peak in 1970 and then declined, with it *Watch-list Data being unclear whether this decline has levelled off or is still continuing past 2000.
    [Show full text]
  • Cetacean Fact Sheets for 1St Grade
    Whale & Dolphin fact sheets Page CFS-1 Cetacean Fact Sheets Photo/Image sources: Whale illustrations by Garth Mix were provided by NOAA Fisheries. Thanks to Jonathan Shannon (NOAA Fisheries) for providing several photographs for these fact sheets. Beluga: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Beluga03.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Beluga_size.svg Blue whale: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Blue_Whale_001_noaa_body_color.jpg; Humpback whale: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/images/cetaceans/humpbackwhale_noaa_large.jpg Orca: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/cetaceans/killerwhale_photos.htm North Atlantic right whale: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/images/cetaceans/narw_flfwc-noaa.jpg Narwhal: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/images/narwhal_pod_hires.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Narwhal_size.svg Pygmy sperm whale: http://swfsc.noaa.gov/textblock.aspx?ParentMenuId=230&id=1428 Minke whale: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/images2/MinkeWhale_NOAA.jpg/view Gray whale: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Gray_whale_size.svg Dall’s porpoise: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dall%27s_porpoise_size.svg Harbor porpoise: http://www.nero.noaa.gov/protected/porptrp/ Sei whale: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Sei_whale_size.svg/500px- Sei_whale_size.svg.png Whale & Dolphin fact sheets Page CFS-2 Beluga Whale (buh-LOO-guh) Photo by Greg Hume FUN FACTS Belugas live in cold water. They swim under ice. They are called white whales. They are the only whales that can move their necks. They can move their heads up and down and side to side. Whale & Dolphin fact sheets Page CFS-3 Baby belugas are gray.
    [Show full text]
  • Order CETACEA Suborder MYSTICETI BALAENIDAE Eubalaena Glacialis (Müller, 1776) EUG En - Northern Right Whale; Fr - Baleine De Biscaye; Sp - Ballena Franca
    click for previous page Cetacea 2041 Order CETACEA Suborder MYSTICETI BALAENIDAE Eubalaena glacialis (Müller, 1776) EUG En - Northern right whale; Fr - Baleine de Biscaye; Sp - Ballena franca. Adults common to 17 m, maximum to 18 m long.Body rotund with head to 1/3 of total length;no pleats in throat; dorsal fin absent. Mostly black or dark brown, may have white splotches on chin and belly.Commonly travel in groups of less than 12 in shallow water regions. IUCN Status: Endangered. BALAENOPTERIDAE Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacepède, 1804 MIW En - Minke whale; Fr - Petit rorqual; Sp - Rorcual enano. Adult males maximum to slightly over 9 m long, females to 10.7 m.Head extremely pointed with prominent me- dian ridge. Body dark grey to black dorsally and white ventrally with streaks and lobes of intermediate shades along sides.Commonly travel singly or in groups of 2 or 3 in coastal and shore areas;may be found in groups of several hundred on feeding grounds. IUCN Status: Lower risk, near threatened. Balaenoptera borealis Lesson, 1828 SIW En - Sei whale; Fr - Rorqual de Rudolphi; Sp - Rorcual del norte. Adults to 18 m long. Typical rorqual body shape; dorsal fin tall and strongly curved, rises at a steep angle from back.Colour of body is mostly dark grey or blue-grey with a whitish area on belly and ventral pleats.Commonly travel in groups of 2 to 5 in open ocean waters. IUCN Status: Endangered. 2042 Marine Mammals Balaenoptera edeni Anderson, 1878 BRW En - Bryde’s whale; Fr - Rorqual de Bryde; Sp - Rorcual tropical.
    [Show full text]
  • Fin Whale Balaenoptera Physalus
    Natural Heritage Fin Whale & Endangered Species Balaenoptera physalus Program State Status: Endangered www.mass.gov/nhesp Federal Status: Endangered Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife DESCRIPTION: Fin Whales can weigh between 40 and 80 tons and measure 22 to 26 meters long, second in size only to the Blue Whale. Females tend to be slightly larger than males by 5-10%. Fin Whales have a sleek, streamlined body with a V-shaped head and are dark grey to brown on top, with white underneath. They have a tall, hooked, dorsal fin located two-thirds of the way down their body. Fin Whales are commonly called Razorbacks for the ridges on the middle of the back behind the dorsal fin. The unique asymmetrical coloration on the head easily separates this species from all of the other baleen whales. On the right side, the lower jaw is white, and the baleen plates in the front half of the mouth are also white, but abruptly change to dark Photo courtesy of NOAA in the back half of the mouth. By contrast, the lower left jaw is gray and all of the baleen plates on the left side are dark. This coloration may aid in herding fish during east of Boston and Cape Ann. Although there are feeding, although its primary purpose is unknown. seasonal fluctuations, the Fin Whale is most common in New England from April to November. Massachusetts RANGE: Fin Whales prefer deep, offshore waters of all waters are a major feeding ground for Fin Whales on the the major oceans, primarily in temperate and polar east coast of the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Whale Watching New South Wales Australia
    Whale Watching New South Wales Australia Including • About Whales • Humpback Whales • Whale Migration • Southern Right Whales • Whale Life Cycle • Blue Whales • Whales in Sydney Harbour • Minke Whales • Aboriginal People & Whales • Dolphins • Typical Whale Behaviour • Orcas • Whale Species • Other Whale Species • Whales in Australia • Other Marine Species About Whales The whale species you are most likely to see along the New South Wales Coastline are • Humpback Whale • Southern Right Whale Throughout June and July Humpback Whales head north for breading before return south with their calves from September to November. Other whale species you may see include: • Minke Whale • Blue Whale • Sei Whale • Fin Whale • False Killer Whale • Orca or Killer Whale • Sperm Whale • Pygmy Right Whale • Pygmy Sperm Whale • Bryde’s Whale Oceans cover about 70% of the Earth’s surface and this vast environment is home to some of the Earth’s most fascinating creatures: whales. Whales are complex, often highly social and intelligent creatures. They are mammals like us. They breath air, have hair on their bodies (though only very little), give birth to live young and suckle their calves through mammary glands. But unlike us, whales are perfectly adapted to the marine environment with strong, muscular and streamlined bodies insulated by thick layers of blubber to keep them warm. Whales are gentle animals that have graced the planet for over 50 million years and are present in all oceans of the world. They capture our imagination like few other animals. The largest species of whales were hunted almost to extinction in the last few hundred years and have survived only thanks to conservation and protection efforts.
    [Show full text]
  • Eats: Krill Eaten By: No Predators. Fin Whale
    Blue Whale The largest whale and animal on Earth! (80-90 feet) Baleen whale Eats: Krill Eaten by: No predators. Fin Whale 2nd largest whales (70-80 feet), one of the fastest. Baleen whale Eats: Krill and small schooling fish Eaten by: No predators. Minke Whale One of the smallest baleen whales (25-30 feet) Eats: Krill and small schooling fish Eaten by: Orcas Grey Whale Medium sized baleen whale (45-50 feet) Eats: Small sand critters (crustaceans called amphipods and tube worms) Eaten by: White sharks and orcas Orca (Killer Whale) Medium sized toothed whale (25-30 feet) Eats: Sea lions, minke whales, grey whales, tuna (and other large fish) Eaten by: No predators. Common Dolphin One of the smaller toothed whales (7-8 feet) Eats: Squid and small schooling fish Eaten by: white sharks Bottlenose Dolphin The largest of the dolphins on our coast (8-12 feet) Eats: fish, squid Eaten by: White shark Risso’s Dolphin One of the larger dolphins on our coast (10 feet) Eats: squid Eaten by: orcas, white sharks Pacific White Sided Dolphin One of the smaller dolphins on our coast (7-8 feet) Eats: squid, small schooling fish Eaten by: orcas, white sharks California Sea Lion Looks like a seal, but barks and walks on front flippers. Eats: squid, fish, sand critters called crustaceans. Eaten by: Orcas, white sharks Western Gull A kind of “Sea Gull” Eats: fish, sand critters called crustaceans, pelican eggs. Eaten by: sharks California Brown Pelican Big brown bird with large beak Eats: Schooling fish Eaten by: Western gulls eat eggs and chicks, sharks Cormorant Big black bird often seen diving or resting with wings spread.
    [Show full text]
  • Socal 12 Final Report
    SOCAL-12 PROJECT REPORT Biological and Behavioral Response Studies of Marine Mammals in Southern California, 2012 (“SOCAL-12”) FINAL PROJECT REPORT 4 April 2013 B. Southall, J. Calambokidis, J. Barlow, D. Moretti, A. Friedlaender, A. Stimpert, A. Douglas, K. Southall, P. Arranz, S. DeRuiter, E. Hazen, J. Goldbogen, E. Falcone, G. Schorr 1 SOCAL-12 PROJECT REPORT SOCAL-12 Project Report – Table of contents 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 2. PROJECT OBJECTIVES 4 3. METHODOLOGY AND FOCAL SPECIES 5 4. OPERATIONAL AREAS AND TIMING 8 5. VISUAL SURVEY RESULTS 10 6. SUMMARY OF TAG DEPLOYMENTS 16 7. CONTROLLED EXPOSURE EXPERIMENTS 18 8. OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS VS. OBJECTIVES 36 9. SOCAL-12 TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC IMPACT 38 10. CONCLUSIONS AND NEXT STEPS 39 2 SOCAL-12 PROJECT REPORT 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SOCAL-12 was the third year of a scientific research project (planned for 2010-2015) entitled Southern California Behavioral Response Study (SOCAL-BRS) occurring in the Southern California Bight. The overall objective is to provide a better understanding of marine mammal behavior and a direct scientific basis to estimate the risk and minimize adverse effects of human sounds, particularly military sonar, on marine mammals. SOCAL-BRS continues to produce significant new basic diving, foraging, and social data on a wide variety of marine mammals, extending previous behavioral response studies (BRS), and is closely coordinated with ongoing studies in the U.S. and Europe, particularly through a joint collaboration on response metrics and statistical analytical methods. Several scientific publications from the earlier phases of the project have recently been published and multiple others are in review and/or final preparation (discussed below).
    [Show full text]
  • Humpback and Blue Whale Research Off California
    FINAL REPORT HUMPBACK AND BLUE WHALE PHOTO-IDENTIFICATION RESEARCH OFF CALIFORNIA, OREGON AND WASHINGTON IN 1999 Prepared for: Southwest Fisheries Science Center Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Prepared by John Calambokidis Todd Chandler Kristin Rasmussen Lisa Schlender Gretchen H. Steiger Cascadia Research Waterstreet Building 218½ W 4th Ave. Olympia, WA 98501 October 2000 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 3 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 4 METHODS ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Photographic identification methods .......................................................................................... 5 Survey regions and coverage ...................................................................................................... 5 Surveys off Washington and Oregon...................................................................................... 5 Dedicated photographic identification surveys off California................................................ 6 Monterey Bay surveys conducted with Oceanic Society........................................................ 6 Other contributors for photographs off California.................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Review of Small Cetaceans. Distribution, Behaviour, Migration and Threats
    Review of Small Cetaceans Distribution, Behaviour, Migration and Threats by Boris M. Culik Illustrations by Maurizio Wurtz, Artescienza Marine Mammal Action Plan / Regional Seas Reports and Studies no. 177 Published by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). Review of Small Cetaceans. Distribution, Behaviour, Migration and Threats. 2004. Compiled for CMS by Boris M. Culik. Illustrations by Maurizio Wurtz, Artescienza. UNEP / CMS Secretariat, Bonn, Germany. 343 pages. Marine Mammal Action Plan / Regional Seas Reports and Studies no. 177 Produced by CMS Secretariat, Bonn, Germany in collaboration with UNEP Coordination team Marco Barbieri, Veronika Lenarz, Laura Meszaros, Hanneke Van Lavieren Editing Rüdiger Strempel Design Karina Waedt The author Boris M. Culik is associate Professor The drawings stem from Prof. Maurizio of Marine Zoology at the Leibnitz Institute of Wurtz, Dept. of Biology at Genova Univer- Marine Sciences at Kiel University (IFM-GEOMAR) sity and illustrator/artist at Artescienza. and works free-lance as a marine biologist. Contact address: Contact address: Prof. Dr. Boris Culik Prof. Maurizio Wurtz F3: Forschung / Fakten / Fantasie Dept. of Biology, Genova University Am Reff 1 Viale Benedetto XV, 5 24226 Heikendorf, Germany 16132 Genova, Italy Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] www.fh3.de www.artescienza.org © 2004 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) / Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made.
    [Show full text]