Moreton Bay; A previously unrecognized resting stopover for east-coast of Australia migrating humpback whales
Humpback whales enter Moreton Bay, in southeast Queensland, Australia, each year during their annual migration. Little is known about the ecological significance of the bay for the humpback whale population. In a region characterised by rapid coastal and maritime development, as well as a growing hu...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1063197/full |
| _version_ | 1797844102258098176 |
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| author | Juliana Castrillon Raphael Mayaud Craig Wilson Greta Dalle Luche Jenny Allen Susan Bengtson Nash |
| author_facet | Juliana Castrillon Raphael Mayaud Craig Wilson Greta Dalle Luche Jenny Allen Susan Bengtson Nash |
| author_sort | Juliana Castrillon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Humpback whales enter Moreton Bay, in southeast Queensland, Australia, each year during their annual migration. Little is known about the ecological significance of the bay for the humpback whale population. In a region characterised by rapid coastal and maritime development, as well as a growing humpback whale population, there is an urgent need to fill knowledge gaps surrounding the populations’ seasonal distribution and habitat use in these coastal waters. This study procured the first detailed information regarding humpback whale distribution, behaviour, and habitat use within Moreton Bay, relative to the main east coast migratory corridor. It was found that on average 42.41% of the individuals observed on the southern leg of the migration entered the bay. 76.78% of pods entering the bay had accompanying calves and 47.82% of these pods were found to be resting or logging, a behaviour often associated with nursing, at the time of observation. These findings provide strong evidence for a previously undocumented role of Moreton Bay as a resting stopover for migrating humpback whales. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:16:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-21ee3d9272b740e0a732d44254d722ff |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:16:59Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-21ee3d9272b740e0a732d44254d722ff2023-04-19T13:41:49ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452023-04-011010.3389/fmars.2023.10631971063197Moreton Bay; A previously unrecognized resting stopover for east-coast of Australia migrating humpback whalesJuliana Castrillon0Raphael Mayaud1Craig Wilson2Greta Dalle Luche3Jenny Allen4Susan Bengtson Nash5Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, AustraliaCentre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, AustraliaPort of Brisbane Pty. Ltd., Lytton, QLD, AustraliaCentre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, AustraliaCentre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, AustraliaCentre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, AustraliaHumpback whales enter Moreton Bay, in southeast Queensland, Australia, each year during their annual migration. Little is known about the ecological significance of the bay for the humpback whale population. In a region characterised by rapid coastal and maritime development, as well as a growing humpback whale population, there is an urgent need to fill knowledge gaps surrounding the populations’ seasonal distribution and habitat use in these coastal waters. This study procured the first detailed information regarding humpback whale distribution, behaviour, and habitat use within Moreton Bay, relative to the main east coast migratory corridor. It was found that on average 42.41% of the individuals observed on the southern leg of the migration entered the bay. 76.78% of pods entering the bay had accompanying calves and 47.82% of these pods were found to be resting or logging, a behaviour often associated with nursing, at the time of observation. These findings provide strong evidence for a previously undocumented role of Moreton Bay as a resting stopover for migrating humpback whales.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1063197/fullmigratory speciesresting stopoversSouthern hemisphere humpback whaleshabitat useenergy balanceMoreton Bay |
| spellingShingle | Juliana Castrillon Raphael Mayaud Craig Wilson Greta Dalle Luche Jenny Allen Susan Bengtson Nash Moreton Bay; A previously unrecognized resting stopover for east-coast of Australia migrating humpback whales Frontiers in Marine Science migratory species resting stopovers Southern hemisphere humpback whales habitat use energy balance Moreton Bay |
| title | Moreton Bay; A previously unrecognized resting stopover for east-coast of Australia migrating humpback whales |
| title_full | Moreton Bay; A previously unrecognized resting stopover for east-coast of Australia migrating humpback whales |
| title_fullStr | Moreton Bay; A previously unrecognized resting stopover for east-coast of Australia migrating humpback whales |
| title_full_unstemmed | Moreton Bay; A previously unrecognized resting stopover for east-coast of Australia migrating humpback whales |
| title_short | Moreton Bay; A previously unrecognized resting stopover for east-coast of Australia migrating humpback whales |
| title_sort | moreton bay a previously unrecognized resting stopover for east coast of australia migrating humpback whales |
| topic | migratory species resting stopovers Southern hemisphere humpback whales habitat use energy balance Moreton Bay |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1063197/full |
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