2016年12月
Spatial distribution and habitat use patterns of humpback whales in Okinawa, Japan
MAMMAL STUDY
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- 巻
- 41
- 号
- 4
- 開始ページ
- 207
- 終了ページ
- 214
- 記述言語
- 英語
- 掲載種別
- 研究論文(学術雑誌)
- DOI
- 10.3106/041.041.0405
- 出版者・発行元
- MAMMALOGICAL SOC JAPAN
Detailed knowledge of the population of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Okinawa is important for conservation management in this area; however, information on the spatial distribution of this population is limited. In this study, we investigated the distribution of whales using data on the sighting locations, water depth, and reproductive status of whales collected over 21 years in the area of Kerama and le Islands, Okinawa, Japan, one of the breeding grounds in the Western North Pacific. Of 1,402 whales that were photo-identified (856 males, 100 singers, 150 females, and 296 females with a calf), males, females, and singers were mainly distributed in deep offshore waters, while females with a calf were distributed in shallow interisland waters. The results suggest that certain reproductive activities, such as mating behavior or competition among males over females to mate, might occur in the offshore northern waters of Kerama Islands and western waters of Ie Island, while nurturing occurred in the interisland waters of Kerama and Ie Islands. Overall, these findings will contribute to the development of sustainable whale watching management plan in this area.
- リンク情報
- ID情報
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- DOI : 10.3106/041.041.0405
- ISSN : 1343-4152
- eISSN : 1348-6160
- Web of Science ID : WOS:000392097200005