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Population Analysis of Endangered Northern Bottlenose Whales on the Scotian Shelf Seven Years After the Establishment of a Marine Protected Area

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Population Analysis of Endangered Northern Bottlenose Whales on the Scotian Shelf Seven Years After the Establishment of a Marine Protected Area Vol. 21: 273–284, 2013 ENDANGERED SPECIES RESEARCH Published online October 9 doi: 10.3354/esr00533 Endang Species Res Population analysis of Endangered northern bottlenose whales on the Scotian Shelf seven years after the establishment of a Marine Protected Area Kristin O’Brien*, Hal Whitehead Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1, Canada ABSTRACT: Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are being established worldwide to protect vulnera- ble marine species and habitats, in the face of accelerating rates of species extinctions. Biophysical indicators such as focal species abundance are often employed to assess the effectiveness of MPAs at meeting conservation objectives. We examined the dynamics of an Endangered beaked whale population 7 yr after the Gully MPA was established in 2004 off Nova Scotia, Canada. Northern bottlenose whales forage in deep water such as the Gully submarine canyon. Several MPA restric- tions were implemented on the Gully ecosystem beginning in 2004 to reduce anthropogenic impacts including ship traffic, underwater noise and entanglements. This study represents the first intensive northern bottlenose whale population assessment since the Gully became a MPA. Using photo-identification data collected in 2010 and 2011, we applied mark–recapture tech- niques to estimate the current population size of northern bottlenose whales on the Scotian Shelf as 143 animals (95% CI: 129 to 156 animals). We also used open population models to examine population trends, and investigated changes in the sex ratio since 1988. Our results suggest the population size and sex ratio have been stable since before MPA legislation was implemented, illustrating the resilience of this population and suggesting that the MPA objective of preventing population decline is being met. Continued monitoring of MPA efficacy is necessary; there is still the potential for future events, whether stochastic or related to climate change, to affect small pop- ulations such as the Gully northern bottlenose whales and put the success of MPAs to further test. KEY WORDS: Endangered species · Marine Protected Area · Beaked whale · Population size · Photo-identification · Marine mammal Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher INTRODUCTION debated (Jameson et al. 2002, Kareiva 2006). None- theless, there does seem to be consensus that ongo- Species extinctions are occurring at alarming rates ing evaluations are important for the success and around the world (Pimm et al. 1995), and, as a conse- improvement of MPAs (Pomeroy et al. 2005, Thomp- quence, there is a growing need to monitor and pro- son et al. 2008, Ojeda-Martínez et al. 2009), and bio- tect endangered wildlife (Campbell et al. 2002). In physical indicators such as focal species abundance many countries, the protection of vulnerable marine can be measured to determine whether MPA objec- species and habitats is increasingly being tackled tives are being met (Pomeroy et al. 2005). through the implementation of Marine Protected Using this approach, we examined the abundance Areas (MPAs) (Wood et al. 2008). However, the effi- and population trends of an Endangered beaked cacy of MPAs as a conservation tool has been whale population in the Gully, a recently established *Email: [email protected] © Inter-Research 2013 · www.int-res.com 274 Endang Species Res 21: 273–284, 2013 MPA located on the Scotian Shelf, offshore Nova ended several decades ago; unfortunately, without a Scotia. The availability of long-term data collected baseline population estimate prior to the emergence decades before and after the establishment of the of commercial whaling, it is difficult to assess the Gully MPA makes this population an appropriate impacts of whaling on this species. point of focus to examine changes in abundance There is significant genetic differentiation between coinciding with MPA implementation. the northern bottlenose whales on the Scotian Shelf The northern bottlenose whale Hyperoodon am - and the closest neighbouring population located in pullatus is a species of beaked whale (family Ziphi- the waters off Newfoundland and Labrador (Dale- idae) that inhabits the North Atlantic Ocean. North- bout et al. 2006). There have not been any photo- ern bottlenose whales forage in deep waters such as identification matches between the Scotian Shelf and submarine canyons where they can dive to 1450 m the Newfoundland/Labrador populations (although (Hooker & Baird 1999) to feed on deep-water squid relatively few individuals are known off Newfound- (Reeves et al. 1993). One canyon where northern bot- land and Labrador; COSEWIC 2011), and analyses tlenose whales are regularly sighted is the Gully sub- based on mitochondrial DNA suggest that <5 fe - marine canyon located on the edge of the Scotian males per generation move between these popula- Shelf (Reeves et al. 1993) about 50 km from Sable tions (Dalebout et al. 2006). Island. It is the largest underwater canyon in the NW The genetic distinctiveness of Gully northern bot- Atlantic. Deep waters of the Gully have been identi- tlenose whales from neighbouring populations (Dale- fied as critical habitat for this resident population of bout et al. 2006), the small population size (White- northern bottlenose whales, and provide a produc- head et al. 1997b) and the suspected vulnerability to tive habitat for a diversity of marine organisms environmental degradation (Reeves et al. 1993) including other cetaceans (DFO 2008). prompted the assessment of Scotian Shelf northern Northern bottlenose whales are also found outside bottlenose whales as Endangered by the Committee of the Gully, in nearby canyons on the Scotian Shelf on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada such as Shortland Canyon (see Fig. 5). Thus, the (COSEWIC) in 2002, and the Species at Risk Act Gully contains an open population, where whales (SARA) in 2006. In 2004, critical habitat of the north- immigrate and emigrate between the MPA and else- ern bottlenose whale within the Gully was desig- where on the Scotian Shelf (Wimmer & Whitehead nated a Marine Protected Area (MPA) (DFO 2008). 2004). At any one time, the majority of all northern In addition to direct hunting, northern bottlenose bottlenose whales on the Scotian Shelf (referred to as whales are also thought to be sensitive to current the Scotian Shelf population) are found in the Gully. human activities, especially entanglement in fishing Population dynamics of northern bottlenose whales gear and noise pollution from shipping and seismic within the Gully have been studied since 1988, and a testing such as that related to oil and gas exploration population estimate made prior to the creation of the (Hooker et al. 1999, Gowans et al. 2000b, Whitehead MPA suggested that approximately 163 northern & Hooker 2012). Tourism is also an emerging indus- bottlenose whales used this and other habitats on the try in the Gully MPA, and the future implications of Scotian Shelf (Whitehead & Wimmer 2005). offshore whale-watching activities on whales and Small populations often have lower resilience to their habitat are uncertain. natural catastrophes and demographic, environmen- Human disturbance in the Gully has likely de - tal and genetic stochasticity (Shaffer 1981). Together, creased markedly in recent years (Whitehead 2013). these destabilizing factors can act on small popula- At present, commercial ship traffic in the Gully is low tions to result in reduced evolutionary potential (estimated at only 1 ship d−1), and with the cessation (Frankham 1996) and increased likelihood of extinc- of both groundfish bottom trawling in areas around tion (Shaffer 1981). Because long-lived, slow-repro- the Gully in 1993 and supersonic Concorde air traffic ducing animals with stable social and breeding sys- over the Gully in 2003, the Gully habitat has likely tems are especially vulnerable to extinction (Lacy become much quieter. Furthermore, pelagic long- 2000), conservation has been a major impetus toward lining in the core area of the Gully ended with the furthering our understanding of the population establishment of the MPA in 2004 (Whitehead 2013). dynamics of northern bottlenose whales on the Scot- The Gully MPA regulations that were put in place in ian Shelf. Eighty-seven northern bottlenose whales 2004 also prevent seismic exploration activities from the Gully were taken by commercial whalers within the MPA; however, the sounds of seismic sur- operating out of Blandford, Nova Scotia, during the veys outside the MPA can be heard inside it 1960s (Reeves et al. 1993). Whaling off Nova Scotia (McQuinn & Carrier 2005). O’Brien & Whitehead: Northern bottlenose whales in the Gully 275 In addition to less underwater noise, fishing activi- stand how the population may have changed since ties within the core area of the MPA, which has been the establishment of the MPA and (3) to examine how identified as northern bottlenose whale critical habi- the sex ratio has changed over time. Because early tat, are no longer permitted. The core area of the studies did not include effort in canyons other than Gully includes deep waters >600 m (DFO 2008); the the Gully, all long-term analyses are restricted to bathymetry of the Gully submarine canyon is illus- only those whales observed in the Gully (referred to trated in Fig. 5. There are, however, restricted fishing as the Gully northern bottlenose whale population). activities and types of gear are permitted in periph- As the unit of management is the Scotian Shelf
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