Publications des scientifiques de l'IRD

Derville S., Torres L. G., Zerbini A. N., Oremus M., Garrigue Claire. (2020). Horizontal and vertical movements of humpback whales inform the use of critical pelagic habitats in the western South Pacific. Scientific Reports - Nature, 10 (1), p. 4871 [13 p.]. ISSN 2045-2322.

Titre du document
Horizontal and vertical movements of humpback whales inform the use of critical pelagic habitats in the western South Pacific
Année de publication
2020
Type de document
Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000563448300020
Auteurs
Derville S., Torres L. G., Zerbini A. N., Oremus M., Garrigue Claire
Source
Scientific Reports - Nature, 2020, 10 (1), p. 4871 [13 p.] ISSN 2045-2322
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are known for their nearshore distribution during the breeding season, but their pelagic habitat use patterns remain mostly unexplored. From 2016 to 2018, 18 humpback whales were equipped with depth-recording satellite tags (SPLASH10) to shed light on environmental and social drivers of seamount association around New Caledonia in the western South Pacific. Movement paths were spatially structured around shallow seamounts (<200 m). Indeed, two males stopped over the Lord Howe seamount chain during the first-ever recorded longitudinal transit between New Caledonia and the east coast of Australia. Residence time significantly increased with proximity to shallow seamounts, while dive depth increased in the vicinity of seafloor ridges. Most of the 7,986 recorded dives occurred above 80 m (88.5%), but deep dives (>80 m, max 616 m) were also recorded (11.5%), including by maternal females. Deep dives often occurred in series and were characterized by U-shapes suggesting high energy expenditure. This study provides new insights into the formerly overlooked use of pelagic habitats by humpback whales during the breeding season. Given increasing anthropogenic threats on deep sea habitats worldwide, this work has implications for the conservation of vulnerable marine ecosystems.
Plan de classement
Limnologie biologique / Océanographie biologique [034] ; Ecologie, systèmes aquatiques [036]
Description Géographique
PACIFIQUE SUD ; NOUVELLE CALEDONIE
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010079669]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010079669
Contact