In:
J. Cetacean Res. Manage., International Whaling Commission, ( 2020-10-22), p. 291-299
Abstract:
It has been known for some time that humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) occur in waters of the Galápagos Islands, an oceanic archipelagolocated 1,000km west of Ecuador, South America (1°S, 91°W), but their presence there has been poorly documented. Although presumed, nolinkage has been established between Galápagos and southeast Pacific humpback whales (Breeding Stock G), the nearest breeding stock. Anexpedition to Galápagos was carried out between 31 August and 10 September 2005 to document the presence of humpback whales, their distribution,and their relationship to other stocks in the Pacific. Surveys covered 722km of the central and southern parts of the archipelago. Only one adultwith a newborn calf was found at Santa Fé Island (0°47’S, 90°05.1’W), yielding an encounter rate of 0.27 whales per 100km of survey. A hydrophonewith a response frequency range of 0.25–25kHz was dropped 25 times, but no whale sounds were heard. A skin sample was obtained by darting ofthe adult at Santa Fé, and was used for genetic analysis of the mtDNA control region. The haplotype of the Galápagos specimen has been found ina few individuals sampled previously off Colombia, Ecuador and the Antarctic Peninsula, thus establishing at least some degree of relatedness withBreeding Stock G. The observations, combined with a compilation of historical and recent sighting information in the archipelago, support the ideathat Galápagos is a breeding area for the species. Further studies are needed to establish the level of discreteness, size and other basic aspects of theGalápagos humpback whale population.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
2312-2706
,
1561-0713
DOI:
10.47536/jcrm.vi.304
Language:
Unknown
Publisher:
International Whaling Commission
Publication Date:
2020
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2744616-5
SSG:
21,3
SSG:
12
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