Table 2 - uploaded by Mithriel Mackay
Content may be subject to copyright.
Source publication
Occurrence patterns and social behaviors of North Atlantic humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) (NAHW) wintering off Puerto Rico were investigated to examine the relationship of this area to the aggregation wintering off the Dominican Republic. I described winter occurrence, movement and association patterns, and the relationship of group assoc...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... were sighted over the study period between winter 2011 and 2014 (Tables 2 and 3, Figures 7 and 8). Groups include M-C, M-C-E, dyads, SAG, singletons, and singers. ...
Context 2
... first date of arrival each season was typically between late December and early January with acoustic confirmation of singers in the area off the east and west coasts of Puerto Rico (Table 2). Visual confirmation of humpback whales occurred near the third week in January most years, with exception of 2012 when the first visual confirmation did not occur until February. ...
Context 3
... Peak occurrence in Mona Passage is between the middle of February and March, with little variability in occurrence patterns and variability between numbers of groups and individuals between years ( Table 2). The occurrence pattern of humpback whales wintering off Hawai'i is similar to but perhaps a bit broader than that of Mona Passage, with whales arriving as early as November, peaking in February and declining throughout May and June (Norris and Reeves 1978;Straley 1990). ...
Context 4
... were detected vocalizing earlier in the season before observations confirmed other humpback whales migrating into Mona Passage. It is possible that females or males that are not singing arrive prior to the males singing; however, visual observations followed acoustic detection in all years of the study, indicating that the singers were the first to arrive ( Table 2). The presence of singers in the study area seems Singers were sighted consistently on ledges associated with seamounts and including the drop-off at the edge of the shelf off Cabo Rojo (Figure 8). ...
Citations
... The reason for these associations remains unknown, but some explanations may be feeding opportunities (Kasamatsu et al., 2000;Clua & Grosvalet, 2001;Quéroil et al., 2008), play (Deakos, 2002), sexual harassment or antagonistic behaviors (Acevedo-Gutiérrez et al., 2005;May-Collado, 2010), predation (Bowers et al., 2018), and others (Deakos et al., 2010;MacKay & Bacon, 2019). Some authors define harassment or antagonistic behavior as an aggressive action by one species towards another that elicits a hostile response indicative of agitation, annoyance, or distress, including, but not limited to, a change in direction, chuffing, or percussive activity (Silber, 1986;Smultea et al., 2014;MacKay, 2015;MacKay & Bacon, 2019). ...
This research note was accepted to be part of the Aquatic Mammals Journal Special Issue to celebrate its 50 years. Here we report the first record of a Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni) in the Gulf of Tribugá, Chocó, as well as its interaction with a group of mother, calf and escort of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Gulf of Tribugá, Chocó, northern Colombian Pacific. This record was possible through a citizen science program established by the R&E Ocean Community Conservation NGO during the covid-19 lockdown, in which three fishermen were trained to conduct marine mammals monitoring within the Gulf.
... killer whale predation) (Jefferson et al., 1991;Weller et al., 1996;Weller, 2018), and harassment (e.g. aggressive behavior of one species towards another that elicits a response indicative of agitation, annoyance, or distress including -but not limited to -a change in direction, chuffing or percussive activity) (Shane, 1995a, b;Palacios and Mate, 1996;Herzing et al., 2003;Pereira, 2008;Smultea et al., 2014;MacKay, 2015). Antagonistic behaviors (aggressive; an individual who is hostile to another individual) have been observed by pilot whales towards other cetacean species (Norris and Prescott, 1961;Kraus and Gihr, 1971;Overholtz and Waring, 1991;Shane 1995a Baraff and Asmutis-Silvia, 1998;Pereira, 2008) leading to speculation that the motive for the aggressive behavior is kleptoparasitism for obtaining a low energy meal (Palacios and Mate, 1996;Smultea et al., 2014). ...
... Previously thought to visit only during the summer months in the West Indies (Caldwell and Erdman, 1963;Erdman, 1970;Mignucci-Giannoni, 1998;Roden and Mullin, 2000), pilot whales have been observed throughout the winter months, indicating resident populations (Taruski and Winn, 1976). Aggregations appear to be uncommon nearshore along the islands of the Caribbean (Taruski and Winn, 1976;Roden and Mullin, 2000); however, there are more recent sightings of pilot whales near the shelf edge during the winter and spring (January through April) (Swartz et al., 2003;MacKay, 2015;Rodriguez-Ferrer et al., 2018). ...
... Speculation exists that pilot whales may harass other cetaceans causing them to regurgitate a recent meal (kleptoparasitism) reducing energy expenditure required while foraging (Palacios and Mate, 1996;Weller et al., 1996;Cords and Würsig, 2014;Smultea et al., 2014;Bacon et al., 2017). Humpback whales are fasting while on the breeding grounds (Chittleborough, 1958;Cartwright et al., 2012;MacKay, 2015) and pilot whales do not typically consume the same prey species humpback whales consume, making a free meal unlikely. The clues provided by these specific cases of antagonistic behaviors by short-finned pilot whales towards fasting humpback whales call into question the hypothesis that pilot whales are gaining any meal via stressinduced regurgitation, and suggest another motive is more plausible for the pilot whales' behavior. ...
The authors describe antagonistic interactions between short-finned pilot whales (Globicephara machrorhyncus) and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Puerto Rican waters.
... killer whale predation) (Jefferson et al., 1991;Weller et al., 1996;Weller, 2018), and harassment (e.g. aggressive behavior of one species towards another that elicits a response indicative of agitation, annoyance, or distress including -but not limited to -a change in direction, chuffing or percussive activity) (Shane, 1995a, b;Palacios and Mate, 1996;Herzing et al., 2003;Pereira, 2008;Smultea et al., 2014;MacKay, 2015). Antagonistic behaviors (aggressive; an individual who is hostile to another individual) have been observed by pilot whales towards other cetacean species (Norris and Prescott, 1961;Kraus and Gihr, 1971;Overholtz and Waring, 1991;Shane 1995a Baraff and Asmutis-Silvia, 1998;Pereira, 2008) leading to speculation that the motive for the aggressive behavior is kleptoparasitism for obtaining a low energy meal (Palacios and Mate, 1996;Smultea et al., 2014). ...
... Previously thought to visit only during the summer months in the West Indies (Caldwell and Erdman, 1963;Erdman, 1970;Mignucci-Giannoni, 1998;Roden and Mullin, 2000), pilot whales have been observed throughout the winter months, indicating resident populations (Taruski and Winn, 1976). Aggregations appear to be uncommon nearshore along the islands of the Caribbean (Taruski and Winn, 1976;Roden and Mullin, 2000); however, there are more recent sightings of pilot whales near the shelf edge during the winter and spring (January through April) (Swartz et al., 2003;MacKay, 2015;Rodriguez-Ferrer et al., 2018). ...
... Speculation exists that pilot whales may harass other cetaceans causing them to regurgitate a recent meal (kleptoparasitism) reducing energy expenditure required while foraging (Palacios and Mate, 1996;Weller et al., 1996;Cords and Würsig, 2014;Smultea et al., 2014;Bacon et al., 2017). Humpback whales are fasting while on the breeding grounds (Chittleborough, 1958;Cartwright et al., 2012;MacKay, 2015) and pilot whales do not typically consume the same prey species humpback whales consume, making a free meal unlikely. The clues provided by these specific cases of antagonistic behaviors by short-finned pilot whales towards fasting humpback whales call into question the hypothesis that pilot whales are gaining any meal via stressinduced regurgitation, and suggest another motive is more plausible for the pilot whales' behavior. ...
The authors describe antagonistic interactions between short-finned pilot whales (Globicephara machrorhyncus) and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Puerto Rican waters.
... Seasonal occurrence of humpback whales in Mona Passage, between the eastern Dominican Republic and western Puerto Rico, was confirmed several decades ago (Mattila, 1984;Smith et al., 1999). Since then, this has been the subject of occasional study until 2012 when dedicated effort began in Mona Passage (MacKay, 2015;. These data provided a limited understanding of the temporal and spatial exchange with other low-latitude areas (Katona & Beard, 1990;). ...
– A study of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae, Borowski, 1781) was conducted off Puerto Rico, from 2012 through 2016, in an attempt to understand the spatial and temporal connection among current low density areas throughout the southeastern Caribbean. Six hundred and sixteen animals were sighted, of which 87 (14%) were individually identified. Seventeen individuals (20%) were re-sighted in one or more of the North Atlantic Caribbean breeding areas. Two newly reported inter-seasonal re-sightings (between Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe), and one intra-seasonal exchange (including the only reported match between Puerto Rico and Anguilla) between Puerto Rico and the southeastern Caribbean are reported here. A paucity of data failed to confirm
that humpback whales are repopulating their full extent of the historical range, including Puerto Rico; however, these observations may provide a glimpse of the future importance of the southeastern Caribbean. It is especially important to understand the occupancy, movements, and habitat use throughout the entire winter range as sources of
anthropogenic impacts (including vessel traffic from the growing cruise ship industry) increase throughout the Caribbean.
... Two aerial surveys have been conducted, but these were limited to mainly coastal areas and only focused on the south-southwest coast of Puerto Rico 3 and Vieques Island DiMateo, 2013). The rest of the research conducted in oceanic waters around the Island has focused on humpback whales 4 (Sanders et al., 2005;Mackay, 2015;MacKay et al., 2016). ...
... Additionally, several of the reported sightings in this note confirmed the presence of species in months (seasons) different from what has been published previously. For example, all previous spinner dolphin sightings have only been reported during the fall months (August-December), and not during the winter months (January-April) (Mignucci-Giannoni, 1998;Swartz et al., 2002;Mackay, 2015). Similarly, for Atlantic spotted dolphins, our reports confirm the species in Puerto Rico in May, October, and December -months that had not been previously reported (Mignucci-Giannoni, 1998;Swartz et al., 2002;Mackay, 2015). ...
... For example, all previous spinner dolphin sightings have only been reported during the fall months (August-December), and not during the winter months (January-April) (Mignucci-Giannoni, 1998;Swartz et al., 2002;Mackay, 2015). Similarly, for Atlantic spotted dolphins, our reports confirm the species in Puerto Rico in May, October, and December -months that had not been previously reported (Mignucci-Giannoni, 1998;Swartz et al., 2002;Mackay, 2015). In the Dominican Republic it has been suggested that spotted dolphins might be residents year-round 13 . ...
Opportunistic encounters by experts and the public (i.e. fishermen, tourists) can be great assets to understanding cetacean distribution, especially in areas where surveys are limited. Sightings of Puerto Rican pelagic cetaceans have been reported in the past, with known seasonality in some species. Within this report, we document sightings for eight species, report new monthly distributions for three of these species, as well as the presence of rough-toothed dolphins close to the coast, and the first underwater sighting of a minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) off San Juan, Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, the lack of long-term studies due to limited funding and resources has been an obstacle in determining species diversity and overall health of cetacean populations. However, this note provides evidence that collaboration between marine biologists and citizen-based science is possible and desired, and serves as a valuable resource to protect and conserve native, pelagic, and transient cetacean species around Puerto Rican waters.
... Two aerial surveys have been conducted, but these were limited to mainly coastal areas and only focused on the south-southwest coast of Puerto Rico 3 and Vieques Island DiMateo, 2013). The rest of the research conducted in oceanic waters around the Island has focused on humpback whales 4 (Sanders et al., 2005;Mackay, 2015;and MacKay et al., 2016). ...
... Additionally, several of the reported sightings in this note confirmed the presence of species in months (seasons) different from what has been published previously. For example, all previous spinner dolphin sightings have only been reported during the fall months (August-December), and not during the winter months (January-April) (Mignucci-Giannoni, 1998;Swartz et al., 2002;Mackay, 2015). Similarly, for Atlantic spotted dolphins, our reports confirm the species in Puerto Rico in May, October, and December -months that had not been previously reported (Mignucci-Giannoni, 1998;Swartz et al., 2002;Mackay, 2015). ...
... For example, all previous spinner dolphin sightings have only been reported during the fall months (August-December), and not during the winter months (January-April) (Mignucci-Giannoni, 1998;Swartz et al., 2002;Mackay, 2015). Similarly, for Atlantic spotted dolphins, our reports confirm the species in Puerto Rico in May, October, and December -months that had not been previously reported (Mignucci-Giannoni, 1998;Swartz et al., 2002;Mackay, 2015). In the Dominican Republic it has been suggested that spotted dolphins might be residents year-round 5 . ...
Understanding the distribution, seasonality, and abundance of cetaceans is of fundamental importance for conservation and management (Furry and Harrison, 2008) and is a key priority for marine mammal studies in the Caribbean. In Puerto Rico, this information is critical for complying with mandatory U.S. Caribbean marine mammal stock assessments.
... Of particular interest are humpback whales, which are a nearshore recovering cetacean species recently delisted from the IUCN list as "endangered" in the North Atlantic. Humpback whales have not been studied in the West Indies since the Years of the North Atlantic Humpback (YoNAH) study in the 1990s with the exception of the multi-year study off Puerto Rico between 2001 and 2017 (Clapham et al. 1992;Clapham and Mattila 1993;Mattila et al. 1994;Stevick et al. 2003;MacKay 2015;MacKay et al. 2016). Identification of individuals continues to facilitate a greater understanding of social organization, migratory destinations, movement patterns, population dynamics in winter habitats, and reproductive behaviours. ...
... Female humpback whales have a bias for shallow areas during calving years (MacKay 2015;MacKay et al. 2016) and Craig and Herman (2000) determined that female Pacific Humpback whales wintering off Hawaii have habitat preference associated with reproductive status. It is unknown if females born on the winter grounds return to have their own calves in the same areas. ...
... Singers (males seeking breeding opportunities) have been recorded in areas off Puerto Rico, another archipelago in the West Indies, associated with ledges (MacKay 2015;MacKay et al. 2016). The presence of singers in an area, including information related to size, age, or behaviours of singers, has the potential to explain why they are occupying waters off the TCI helping to fill a gap in knowledge. ...
The Marine and Coastal Ecology Research Center (MCERC) partnered with the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR), in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), British West Indies (BWI) to collect and analyse data on marine animals including humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), cetaceans, sea turtles and other occurring marine megafauna. The main objective of the project was to assess occurrence patterns and behaviors of marine and coastal megafauna near the island of Salt Cay and smaller nearby cays. The MCERC team was stationed on Salt Cay and participated in multiple forms of opportunistic data collection surveys (land, vessel, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and in-water [snorkeling]) from 30December 2016 to 01 April 2017. This time period represents the high occupancy season for migrating humpback whales. Sea turtles are sighted year-round and the study of occurrence and occupancy in the TCI is the focus of a long term study by the DECR and partners.
Humpback whales migrate to the West Indies for their winter breeding season. The main aggregation for humpback whales is off the Dominican Republic at Silver Bank, Navidad Bank and Samaná Bay. An unknown number of humpback whales are observed annually off Salt Cay throughout the winter months (January – April) by residents and visitors. During three months of surveying in 2017, a total of 154 individual humpback whales among 239 groups were observed migrating through the area.
The majority of the vessel-based surveys were aboard whale watching vessel tours. The MCERC team assessed whale watching vessel captains’ approach to humpback whale and dolphin groups using the suggested regulations set forth, and pending, by the DECR for responsible whale watching and international guidelines for responsible whale watching. The MCERC team is investigating the relationship between the vessel approach methods employed by whale watch captions in addition to surrounding vessels (cruise ships, visitors, cargo ships) and humpback whale behavior. Data collection and analyses are ongoing while we continue to collect a robust dataset over multiple seasons.
Two species of sea turtles occur regularly in the TCI, the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) are not common and the Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is rare. Little is known about the migratory patterns of sea turtles in the TCI. The MCERC team surveyed beaches and near coastal area benthic habitats around Salt Cay. A multi-year investigation in conjunction with the DECR sea turtle research and conservation efforts was initiated in January 2017. As MCERC moves forward, year round investigation is anticipated to expand in support of the DECR research effort.
Preliminary data suggests humpback whales are utilizing the Columbus Passage, the area between the Caicos Bank and the Turks Bank in the TCI, as a corridor between the northern feeding grounds and the breeding areas throughout the Caribbean. Individuals are rarely resighted, with exceptions including mother calf pairs for 3 days or less. Tagging may be of value in the TCI as a means of collecting valuable data on migration and movement in both directions each winter. Because tags typically remain on individual whales for a limited number of days, and because the TCI has ledges near shore off Salt Cay where whales can predictably be approached near shore, tagging in this area will be able to provide valuable insight into movement patterns that are otherwise unattainable.
Biweekly outreach, in the form of open discussion with people living and visiting Salt Cay, commenced in January 2017 and continued throughout the winter months. The MCERC team introduced life history of humpback whales and sea turtles, research methods, and a global approach to conservation of the marine megafauna around Salt cay, TCI.
The 2017 data collection occurring in winter attempted to collaborate with a local business for the purpose of supporting commerce in the TCI. Subsequent data collection periods will move forward separate from local businesses that are operating whale watch tours from the same vessel as the research team in order to avoid a conflict of interest as well as attempts to modify the research methods formulated to assure a systematic, scientific investigation.
Predicting where North Atlantic humpback whales cluster on winter grounds, including the TCI, may enable managers to suggest/enforce minimization of interactions between humans and whales in areas where recreational and commercial activities (cruise ships, whale watch, and tourism) overlap.
The Caribbean has a paucity of data in the literature for marine megafauna. Humpback whales in particular, have not been studied throughout the TCI. MCERC is uniquely positioned to compare movement, occurrence patterns, and behaviors to other parts of the Caribbean. MCERC has research sites established and initiating investigations of cetaceans in Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Haiti. The MCERC photo-identification catalogue facilitates matching images to cetaceans throughout the Greater Antilles, and submission of images to the North Atlantic Humpback Whale Catalogue highlights the importance of the TCI in understanding marine ecology throughout the Caribbean Sea, and the feeding grounds in the higher latitudes of the North Atlantic, in support of marine managers developing policy and regulations in economically important areas.
Baleen whales are key consumers in marine ecosystems and can serve as ecosystem sentinels. Body condition, defined as an individual's energy stores relative to its structural size, can provide a useful proxy for health in baleen whales. As capital breeders, important life history events in baleen whales such as seasonal migrations and reproduction depend on having sufficient energy stores. Spatiotemporal variability of body condition of baleen whales can reflect differences in energy accumulated during the foraging season. Here we assess and compare the body condition and mass of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) across four different foraging areas from the West Indies distinct population segment in the Northwest Atlantic. Morphometric measurements of humpback whales were obtained using unoccupied aerial systems (UAS, or drones) from the New York Bight, the Gulf of Maine, Iceland, and Greenland. Uncertainty in morphometric estimates was incorporated and propagated using a bootstrapping approach. Measurements were used to estimate body volume and calculate a body condition index (BCI) for each individual whale. Since body mass is a key parameter for understanding animal physiology and bioenergetics, we further compared whale body mass to body size between foraging areas by converting body volume to body mass using estimates of tissue density from tagging studies. BCI showed significant differences between foraging areas with a large effect size (ANCOVA: mean h 2 = 0.168; all p< 0.001) when incorporating day of year and year as covariates. Humpback whales in the Gulf of Maine showed significantly higher BCI than those in the New York Bight, Iceland, and Greenland. Standardized Major Axis (SMA) regressions comparing log-log relationships of Frontiers in Marine Science
In the North Atlantic, some humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) from the Icelandic feeding grounds are known to migrate to the breeding grounds in the West Indies. The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) are historically considered part of the larger breeding range; however, very little humpback whale data has been reported for TCI and there have been no previously confirmed matches or round-trip migrations to the Icelandic feeding grounds. Here, we present the first documented photo-identification match and round-trip migration of a humpback whale between Iceland and the TCI.
North Atlantic humpback whales (NAHW) migrate between feeding grounds and breeding/calving grounds, with most individuals aggregating off the Dominican Republic in winter. Smaller areas throughout the West Indies have fewer individuals and it is possible that these areas were once densely populated, or that they serve another important function in NAHW life history (such as mothers/calves staying away from major mating areas, young males "practicing" song and other adult male activities, etc.). We examined resightings between Puerto Rico and areas throughout the North Atlantic. Puerto Rico west coast data were collected from a small vessel and a land platform between 2011 and 2014. NAHW arrive in Mona Passage, Puerto Rico, near the first week in January and leave around the end of April, with peak occurrence close to the first week in March. We documented 197 groups of 331 individual NAHW. High-resolution digital photographs were obtained for 90 (27%) individuals and submitted to the Allied Whale project at College of the Atlantic for comparison to the NAHW catalog, returning 24 (27%) fluke matches. Resightings were rare (1%) between the North Atlantic catalog and our local catalog, with discontinuous survey effort likely a contributing factor. Matches were made between Puerto Rico and Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador), Gulf of Maine, Greenland, Iceland, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, and Guadeloupe. Gaps between first and last sightings ranged from one month to 34 years. Results emphasize that those individuals not resighted for an extended period of time may not be presumed deceased. Continuous surveys will be important for understanding the importance of small areas throughout the West Indies where humans and whales overlap, providing marine managers with information regarding "end-point of migration" occurrence patterns, especially important as NAHW increase in numbers and ahead of the proposed U.S. delisting of NAHW as endangered.
