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Insights into Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus L.) Population Movements in the Galapagos Archipelago and Southeast Pacific.
Guzman, Hector M; Estévez, Rocío M; Kaiser, Stefanie.
Afiliação
  • Guzman HM; Naos Marine Laboratory, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City P.O. Box 0843-03092, Panama.
  • Estévez RM; Naos Marine Laboratory, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City P.O. Box 0843-03092, Panama.
  • Kaiser S; Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Animals (Basel) ; 14(18)2024 Sep 18.
Article em En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39335296
ABSTRACT
The Galapagos Marine Reserve is vital for cetaceans, serving as both a stopover and residency site. However, blue whales, occasionally sighted here, exhibit poorly understood migratory behavior within the Galapagos and the broader Eastern Tropical Pacific. This study, the first to satellite tag blue whales in the Galapagos (16 tagged between 2021 and 2023), explored their behavior in relation to environmental variables like chlorophyll-a concentration, sea surface temperature (SST), and productivity. Key findings show a strong correlation between foraging behavior, high chlorophyll-a levels, productivity, and lower SSTs, indicating a preference for food-rich areas. Additionally, there is a notable association with geomorphic features like ridges, which potentially enhance food abundance. Most tagged whales stayed near the Galapagos archipelago, with higher concentrations observed around Isabela Island, which is increasingly frequented by tourist vessels, posing heightened ship strike risks. Some whales ventured into Ecuador's exclusive economic zone, while one migrated southward to Peru. The strong 2023 El Niño-Southern Oscillation event led to SST and primary production changes, likely impacting whale resource availability. Our study provides crucial insights into blue whale habitat utilization, informing adaptive management strategies to mitigate ship strike risks and address altered migration routes due to climate-driven environmental shifts.
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Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Base de dados: MEDLINE Idioma: En Revista: Animals (Basel) Ano de publicação: 2024 Tipo de documento: Article País de afiliação: Panamá País de publicação: Suíça

Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Base de dados: MEDLINE Idioma: En Revista: Animals (Basel) Ano de publicação: 2024 Tipo de documento: Article País de afiliação: Panamá País de publicação: Suíça