@article{fdi:010079152,
  title = {{R}eproductive capacity of an endangered and recovering population of humpback whales in the {S}outhern {H}emisphere},
  author = {{C}hero, {G}. and {P}radel, {R}. and {D}erville, {S}. and {B}onneville, {C}. and {G}imenez, {O}. and {G}arrigue, {C}laire},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{E}stimating demographic parameters is essential to assessing the recovery potential of severely depleted populations of marine mammal species such as the baleen whales, which were decimated by commercial whaling of the past century. {T}he {O}ceania humpback whale {M}egaptera novaeangliae population is classified as endangered by the {IUCN} because of low numbers and a slow recovery rate. {N}evertheless, an anomalously strong increase has recently been detected in the {N}ew {C}aledonia breeding population. {T}o determine the drivers of population growth, reproductive parameters were estimated for the first time for a humpback whale population of {O}ceania. {B}ased on an extensive monitoring program (1995-2018), recapture histories were reconstructed for 607 females and incorporated in multi-event capture-recapture models. {A}s the females' ages were generally unknown (87%), 2 models with contrasting age scenarios were investigated. {F}or females of unknown age, the mature scenario assumed maturity at the first encounter, while the immature scenario assumed immaturity within 7 yr after the first encounter, unless the female was encountered breeding. {T}hese models respectively resulted in a calving interval of 1.49 yr (95% {CI}: 1.21-2.08) or 2.83 yr (95% {CI}: 2.28-3.56) and a calving rate of 0.67 or 0.35. {T}he relatively high calving rate modelled by the mature model is consistent with high pregnancy rates recently observed in the migratory corridors of the {K}ermadec {I}slands and on the feeding grounds of the {A}ntarctic {P}eninsula. {T}herefore, our results suggest that the recovery of the {N}ew {C}aledonia humpback whale population from past exploitation may be partially driven by an increased reproductive capacity.},
  keywords = {{C}alving interval ; {C}alving rate ; {H}umpback whales ; {N}ew {C}aledonia ; {P}acific ; population ; {R}ecovery ; {S}exual maturity ; {PACIFIQUE} ; {NOUVELLE} {CALEDONIE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{M}arine {E}cology {P}rogress {S}eries},
  volume = {643},
  numero = {},
  pages = {219--227},
  ISSN = {0171-8630},
  year = {2020},
  DOI = {10.3354/meps13329},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010079152},
}