Minton,G.,Cherchio, S.,Collins,T.J.Q.,Ersts, P.J.,Findlay,K.P.,Pomilla, C.,Bennett, D.,Meyer, M.,Razafindrakoto, Y.,Kotze, D.,Oosthuizen, H.,Leslie, M.,Andrianarivelo, N.,Baldwin,R.M.,Ponnampalam, L.,Rosenbaum, H.C.
A note on the comparison of humpback whale tail fluke catalogues from the Sultanate of Oman with Madagascar and the East African Mainland Journal Article
In: Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, vol. 11, no. 408, pp. 65-68, 2010.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, Humpback Whale, humpback whales, Indian Ocean, Madagascar, megaptera novaeangliae, Mozambique, Northern Hemisphere, Oman, photo-ID, population identity, South Africa
@article{,
title = {A note on the comparison of humpback whale tail fluke catalogues from the Sultanate of Oman with Madagascar and the East African Mainland},
author = {Minton,G.,Cherchio, S.,Collins,T.J.Q.,Ersts, P.J.,Findlay,K.P.,Pomilla, C.,Bennett, D.,Meyer, M.,Razafindrakoto, Y.,Kotze, D.,Oosthuizen, H.,Leslie, M.,Andrianarivelo, N.,Baldwin,R.M.,Ponnampalam, L.,Rosenbaum, H.C.},
year = {2010},
date = {2010-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Cetacean Research and Management},
volume = {11},
number = {408},
pages = {65-68},
abstract = {The photo-identification catalogue of humpback whale tail flukes from Oman was compared with those from Antongil Bay, Madagascar and study
sites in South Africa and Mozambique collectively termed the ‘East African Mainland’. No matches were found, supporting other lines of evidence
that the humpback whales studied off the coast of Oman form part of a discrete Arabian Sea population, which adheres to a Northern Hemisphere
breeding cycle, and has little or no ongoing exchange with the nearest neighbouring populations in the southern Indian Ocean.While the sample size
from Oman is small, and low levels of ongoing exchange might not be detected in this type of catalogue comparison, the study nonetheless emphasises
the need to pursue research and conservation efforts in the known and suspected range of the Endangered Arabian Sea humpback whale population.},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, Humpback Whale, humpback whales, Indian Ocean, Madagascar, megaptera novaeangliae, Mozambique, Northern Hemisphere, Oman, photo-ID, population identity, South Africa},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The photo-identification catalogue of humpback whale tail flukes from Oman was compared with those from Antongil Bay, Madagascar and study
sites in South Africa and Mozambique collectively termed the ‘East African Mainland’. No matches were found, supporting other lines of evidence
that the humpback whales studied off the coast of Oman form part of a discrete Arabian Sea population, which adheres to a Northern Hemisphere
breeding cycle, and has little or no ongoing exchange with the nearest neighbouring populations in the southern Indian Ocean.While the sample size
from Oman is small, and low levels of ongoing exchange might not be detected in this type of catalogue comparison, the study nonetheless emphasises
the need to pursue research and conservation efforts in the known and suspected range of the Endangered Arabian Sea humpback whale population.
sites in South Africa and Mozambique collectively termed the ‘East African Mainland’. No matches were found, supporting other lines of evidence
that the humpback whales studied off the coast of Oman form part of a discrete Arabian Sea population, which adheres to a Northern Hemisphere
breeding cycle, and has little or no ongoing exchange with the nearest neighbouring populations in the southern Indian Ocean.While the sample size
from Oman is small, and low levels of ongoing exchange might not be detected in this type of catalogue comparison, the study nonetheless emphasises
the need to pursue research and conservation efforts in the known and suspected range of the Endangered Arabian Sea humpback whale population.
Minton,G.,Collins,T.J.Q.,Findlay,K.P.,Baldwin,R.,Rosenbaum,H.C.,Kennedy,F.D.,Cockcroft,V.
Preliminary investigations of humpback whale Technical Report
no. 414, 2002, ISBN: SC/54/H3.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: abundance, Arabian Sea, Distribution, habitat use, Humpback Whale, humpback whales, megaptera novaeangliae, Northern Hemisphere, occurrence, Oman, population, relative abundance, sex-ratio, song, survey, whale, whales, whaling
@techreport{,
title = {Preliminary investigations of humpback whale },
author = {Minton,G.,Collins,T.J.Q.,Findlay,K.P.,Baldwin,R.,Rosenbaum,H.C.,Kennedy,F.D.,Cockcroft,V.},
issn = {SC/54/H3},
year = {2002},
date = {2002-01-01},
journal = {Document presented to the 54th meeting of the International Whaling Commission},
volume = {SC/54/H3},
number = {414},
pages = {1-19},
abstract = {Previously published data on the occurrence of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Arabian Sea suggest that the region hosts a non-migratory population that adheres to a Northern Hemisphere breeding cycle. Six small boat surveys and one shore-based survey were conducted at three locations off the coast of Oman between February 2000 and February 2002. Encounter rates varied between surveys from 0.0 whales/hour to 0.545 whales per hour. Two of 36 photo-identified whales were re-sighted between surveys. Sex ratios in October were near parity while all whales sampled in February were male. Song was detected frequently in the Kuria Muria Bay in February, but records of mother-calf pairs are sparse and competitive groups were absent. Feeding was infrequently observed in both October and February. Implications for relative abundance and habitat use are discussed. Additional questions are raised and recommendations for further research are made.},
keywords = {abundance, Arabian Sea, Distribution, habitat use, Humpback Whale, humpback whales, megaptera novaeangliae, Northern Hemisphere, occurrence, Oman, population, relative abundance, sex-ratio, song, survey, whale, whales, whaling},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Previously published data on the occurrence of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Arabian Sea suggest that the region hosts a non-migratory population that adheres to a Northern Hemisphere breeding cycle. Six small boat surveys and one shore-based survey were conducted at three locations off the coast of Oman between February 2000 and February 2002. Encounter rates varied between surveys from 0.0 whales/hour to 0.545 whales per hour. Two of 36 photo-identified whales were re-sighted between surveys. Sex ratios in October were near parity while all whales sampled in February were male. Song was detected frequently in the Kuria Muria Bay in February, but records of mother-calf pairs are sparse and competitive groups were absent. Feeding was infrequently observed in both October and February. Implications for relative abundance and habitat use are discussed. Additional questions are raised and recommendations for further research are made.
Mikhalev,Y.A.
Humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae in the Arabian Sea Journal Article
In: Marine Ecology Progress Series, vol. 149, no. 154, pp. 13-21, 1997.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Antarctic, Arabian Sea, Distribution, Humpback Whale, humpback whales, India, Indian Ocean, length, megaptera novaeangliae, Northern Hemisphere, Oman, Pakistan, pathology, population, Population Biology, population identity, reproduction, whale, whales, whaling
@article{,
title = {Humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae in the Arabian Sea},
author = {Mikhalev,Y.A.},
year = {1997},
date = {1997-01-01},
journal = {Marine Ecology Progress Series},
volume = {149},
number = {154},
pages = {13-21},
abstract = {The population identity of humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae in the Arabian Sea has long been a matter of dispute. New information is presented from this region, based upon whaling and observations conducted by the Soviet Union, primarily in November 1966. In that month, a total of 238 humpbacks were killed off the coasts of Oman, Pakistan and northwestern India; 4 others were killed in 1965. Biological examination of these whales showed that they differed significantly from Antarctic humpbacks in terms of size, coloration, body scars and pathology. In addition, analysis of the length distribution of 38 foetuses indicates that the reproductive cycle of the Arabian Sea whales was unequivocally that of a northern hemisphere population. Mean lengths were 12.8 m for males (range: 9.5 to 14.9 m, n = 126) and 13.3 m for females (range: 9.5 to 15.2 m, n = 112). All whales 12.5 m or more in length were sexually mature. Among 97 females examined, 12 (12.4%) were immature. Of the 85 mature females, 39 (45.9%) were pregnant, 3 (3.5%) were lactating, and 43 (50.6%) were resting. A more plausible pregnancy rate, adjusted for underrepresentation of lactating females, was estimated at 39%. A majority of stomachs examined contained food, including euphausiids and fish. Overall, the data presented here argue strongly that Arabian Sea humpbacks constitute a discrete population which remains in tropical waters year-round, a situation which is unique for this species.},
keywords = {Antarctic, Arabian Sea, Distribution, Humpback Whale, humpback whales, India, Indian Ocean, length, megaptera novaeangliae, Northern Hemisphere, Oman, Pakistan, pathology, population, Population Biology, population identity, reproduction, whale, whales, whaling},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The population identity of humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae in the Arabian Sea has long been a matter of dispute. New information is presented from this region, based upon whaling and observations conducted by the Soviet Union, primarily in November 1966. In that month, a total of 238 humpbacks were killed off the coasts of Oman, Pakistan and northwestern India; 4 others were killed in 1965. Biological examination of these whales showed that they differed significantly from Antarctic humpbacks in terms of size, coloration, body scars and pathology. In addition, analysis of the length distribution of 38 foetuses indicates that the reproductive cycle of the Arabian Sea whales was unequivocally that of a northern hemisphere population. Mean lengths were 12.8 m for males (range: 9.5 to 14.9 m, n = 126) and 13.3 m for females (range: 9.5 to 15.2 m, n = 112). All whales 12.5 m or more in length were sexually mature. Among 97 females examined, 12 (12.4%) were immature. Of the 85 mature females, 39 (45.9%) were pregnant, 3 (3.5%) were lactating, and 43 (50.6%) were resting. A more plausible pregnancy rate, adjusted for underrepresentation of lactating females, was estimated at 39%. A majority of stomachs examined contained food, including euphausiids and fish. Overall, the data presented here argue strongly that Arabian Sea humpbacks constitute a discrete population which remains in tropical waters year-round, a situation which is unique for this species.
Whitehead,H.
Humpback whale songs from the North Indian Ocean Journal Article
In: Investigations on Cetacea, vol. 17, no. 499, pp. 157-162, 1985.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Humpback Whale, humpback whales, Indian Ocean, North Pacific, Northern Hemisphere, Oman, singing, Southern Hemisphere
@article{,
title = {Humpback whale songs from the North Indian Ocean},
author = {Whitehead,H.},
year = {1985},
date = {1985-01-01},
journal = {Investigations on Cetacea},
volume = {17},
number = {499},
pages = {157-162},
abstract = {The Author conducted acoustic watches during surveys conducted in the WWF-UUCN Indian Ocean Sperm Whale Project. The survey area extended between the Seychelles and Chagos in the South, to Sri Lanka, India and Oman (Muscat) in the north. It did not include the NW coast of India, Pakistan or Iran. Song was detected near the Kuria Muria Islands from Jan 15th-17th 1982, and in the Gulf of Mannar in Sri Lanka between 19 Feb and 10 March 1982. The songs in both these places contained similar content, and the author concludes that at least some whales were present in these areas and adhering to a Northern Hemisphere breeding cycle. He supports Ross's 1981 suggestion that upwelling in the NIO provides a year-round food source, and that the singing whales are neither Southern Hemisphere migrants, or North Pacific visitors. As no humpback whales were directly observed, he suggests that the survey either missed areas of peak concentration, or that the population is small and dispersed.},
keywords = {Humpback Whale, humpback whales, Indian Ocean, North Pacific, Northern Hemisphere, Oman, singing, Southern Hemisphere},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The Author conducted acoustic watches during surveys conducted in the WWF-UUCN Indian Ocean Sperm Whale Project. The survey area extended between the Seychelles and Chagos in the South, to Sri Lanka, India and Oman (Muscat) in the north. It did not include the NW coast of India, Pakistan or Iran. Song was detected near the Kuria Muria Islands from Jan 15th-17th 1982, and in the Gulf of Mannar in Sri Lanka between 19 Feb and 10 March 1982. The songs in both these places contained similar content, and the author concludes that at least some whales were present in these areas and adhering to a Northern Hemisphere breeding cycle. He supports Ross's 1981 suggestion that upwelling in the NIO provides a year-round food source, and that the singing whales are neither Southern Hemisphere migrants, or North Pacific visitors. As no humpback whales were directly observed, he suggests that the survey either missed areas of peak concentration, or that the population is small and dispersed.