The following articles has been published on line:
Friedlaender, A.S., G.L. Lawson, and P.N. Halpin. 2008. Evidence of
resource partitioning between humpback and minke whales around the
western Antarctic Peninsula. Marine Mammal Science DOI: 10.1111/j.
1748-7692.2008.00263.x
ABSTRACT
For closely related sympatric species to coexist, they must differ to
some degree in their ecological requirements or niches (e.g., diets)
to avoid interspecific competition. Baleen whales in the Antarctic
feed primarily on krill, and the large sympatric prewhaling community
suggests resource partitioning among these species or a nonlimiting
prey resource. In order to examine ecological differences between
sympatric humpback and minke whales around the Western Antarctic
Peninsula, we made measurements of the physical environment,
observations of whale distribution, and concurrent acoustic
measurements of krill aggregations. Mantel's tests and classification
and regression tree models indicate both similarities and differences
in the spatial associations between humpback and minke whales,
environmental features, and prey. The data suggest (1) similarities
(proximity to shore) and differences (prey abundance versus deep water
temperatures) in horizontal spatial distribution patterns, (2)
unambiguous vertical resource partitioning with minke whales
associating with deeper krill aggregations across a range of spatial
scales, and (3) that interference competition between these two
species is unlikely. These results add to the paucity of ecological
knowledge relating baleen whales and their prey in the Antarctic and
should be considered in conservation and management efforts for
Southern Ocean cetaceans and ecosystems.
Society Members can access this manuscript from the journal web site
via the Members Area: www.marinemammalogy.org
or contact me for a pdf: a...@duke.edu
Thank you.
Ari Friedlaender
Ari S. Friedlaender, Ph.D.
Assistant Research Scientist
Duke University Marine Laboratory
135 Pivers Island Road
Beaufort, NC 28516
p 919 672 0103
f 252 504 7648
a...@duke.edu
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