Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to announce the publication of the following article:
Witteveen, B.H., De Robertis, A., Guo, L., and Wynne, K.M. Using dive
behavior and active acoustics to assess prey partitioning by fin and
humpback whales near Kodiak Island, Alaska. Marine Mammal Science
DOI:10.1111/mms.12158
Abstract
Near the Kodiak Archipelago, fin (Balaenoptera physalus) and humpback
(Megaptera novaeangliae) whales frequently overlap spatially and
temporally. The Gulf Apex Predator-prey study (GAP) investigated the
prey use and potential prey partitioning between these sympatric species
by combining concurrent analysis of vertical whale distribution with
acoustic assessment of pelagic prey. Acoustic backscatter was classified
as consistent with either fish or zooplankton. Whale dive depths were
determined through suction cup tags. Tagged humpback whales (n = 10)
were most often associated with distribution of fish, except when
zooplankton density was very high. Associations between the dive depths
of tagged fin whales (n = 4) and the vertical distribution of either
prey type were less conclusive. However, prey assessment methods did not
adequately describe the distribution of copepods, a potentially
significant resource for fin whales. Mean dive parameters showed no
significant difference between species when compared across all surveys.
However, fin whales spent a greater proportion of dive time in the
foraging phase than humpbacks, suggesting a possible difference in
foraging efficiency between the two. These results suggest that humpback
and fin whales may target different prey, with the greatest potential
for diet overlap occurring when the density of zooplankton is very high.
The article can be access via
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.12158/full or by
requesting an electronic reprint from bree.wittev...@alaska.edu.
Thank you,
Bree Witteveen
--
Briana H. Witteveen
Research Assistant Professor
University of Alaska Fairbanks
School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
Marine Advisory Program
Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center
118 Trident Way
Kodiak, AK 90615
907-486-1519
http://seagrant.uaf.edu/map/gap/index.php
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