@article{,

title = {Population differentiation of 2 forms of Bryde’s Whales in the Indian and Pacific Oceans},

author = {Kershaw, Francine,Leslie, Matthew S,Collins, Tim,Mansur, Rubaiyat M,Smith, Brian D,Minton, Gianna,Baldwin, Robert,LeDuc, Richard G,Anderson, R Charles,Brownell, Robert L},

issn = {0022-1503},

year  = {2013},

date = {2013-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Heredity},

volume = {104},

number = {394},

pages = {755-764},

abstract = {Accurate identification of units for conservation is particularly challenging for marine species as obvious barriers to gene flow are

generally lacking. Bryde’s whales (Balaenoptera spp.) are subject to multiple human-mediated stressors, including fisheries bycatch,

ship strikes, and scientific whaling by Japan. For effective management, a clear understanding of how populations of each Bryde’s

whale species/subspecies are genetically structured across their range is required. We conducted a population-level analysis of

mtDNA control region sequences with 56 new samples from Oman, Maldives, and Bangladesh, plus published sequences from

off Java and the Northwest Pacific. Nine diagnostic characters in the mitochondrial control region and a maximum parsimony

phylogenetic analysis identified 2 genetically recognized subspecies of Bryde’s whale: the larger, offshore form, Balaenoptera edeni

brydei, and the smaller, coastal form, Balaenoptera edeni edeni. Genetic diversity and differentiation indices, combined with a reconstructed

maximum parsimony haplotype network, indicate strong differences in the genetic diversity and population structure

within each subspecies. Discrete population units are identified for B. e. brydei in the Maldives, Java, and the Northwest Pacific and

for B. e. edeni between the Northern Indian Ocean (Oman and Bangladesh) and the coastal waters of Japan.},

keywords = {balaenoptera, balaenoptera edeni, bangladesh, Bryde's whale, Maldives, Oman, Speciation, taxonomy},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Seasonal distribution, movements and taxonomic status of blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) in the northern Indian Ocean},

author = {Anderson, R.C.,Branch, T.A.,Alagiyawadu, A.,Baldwin, A.L.,Marsac, F.},

url = {https://hal.ird.fr/ird-00777313/document},

year  = {2012},

date = {2012-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Cetacean Research and Management},

volume = {12},

number = {291},

pages = {203–218},

abstract = {There is a distinct population of blue whales, Balaenoptera musculus, in the northern Indian Ocean. The taxonomic status of these animals has long

been uncertain, with debate over whether this population represents a distinct subspecies, and if so which name should apply. They have most

frequently been assigned to B. musculus brevicauda, but are currently considered to be B. m. indica. The movements of these blue whales within

the northern Indian Ocean are poorly understood. This paper reviews catches (n = 1,288), sightings (n = 448, with a minimum of 783 animals),

strandings (n = 64) and acoustic detections (n = 6 locations); uses ocean colour data to estimate seasonality of primary productivity in different

areas of the northern Indian Ocean; and develops a migration hypothesis. It is suggested that most of these whales feed in the Arabian Sea off the

coasts of Somalia and the Arabian peninsula during the period of intense upwelling associated with the southwest monsoon (from about May to

October). At the same time some blue whales also feed in the area of upwelling off the southwest coast of India and west coast of Sri Lanka. When

the southwest monsoon dies down in about October–November these upwellings cease. The blue whales then disperse more widely to eke out the

leaner months of the northeast monsoon (during about December to March) in other localised areas with seasonally high productivity. These include

the east coast of Sri Lanka, the waters west of the Maldives, the vicinity of the Indus Canyon (at least historically), and some parts of the southern

Indian Ocean. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that at least some of the blue whales that feed off the east coast of Sri Lanka in the

northeast monsoon also feed in the Arabian Sea during the southwest monsoon. These whales appear to migrate eastwards past the north of Maldives

and south of Sri Lanka in about December–January, returning westwards in about April–May.},

keywords = {Arabian Sea, balaenoptera musculus, Blue whale, Indian Ocean, Maldives, Movements, Oman, taxonomy},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Records of cetacean "strandings" from the Maldives},

author = {Anderson,R.C.,Shaan,A.,Waheed,Z.},

year  = {1999},

date = {1999-01-01},

journal = {Journal of South Asian Natural History},

volume = {4},

number = {12},

pages = {187-202},

abstract = {Published records of 26 cetacean strandings are reviewed, and an additional 56 records are presented.  the sperm whale is the most frequently reported species, accounting for about half of all reported strandings.  Blue whales most often strand on Maldivian and other south Asian coasts during January to April; we suggest that they migrate from the central Indian Ocean to the western Arabian Sea to feed on upwelling-associated plankton during July to October.  Eight other species are positively identified, including the gingko-toothed beaked whale.  Floating carcasses of dead cetaceans drift with the monsoon currents and so are found most commonly off the west coast during the southwest monsoon season, and off the east coast during the northeast monsoon season.  Cetaceans are not hunted in the Maldives, but there is evidence that some cetaceans killed by the fishing activities of other countries drift into Maldivian waters.},

keywords = {Arabian Sea, Blue whale, blue whales, Central Indian Ocean, Indian Ocean, Maldives, sperm whales, Strandings},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Cetaceans of the Western Tropical Indian Ocean: Distribution, Relative Abundance, and comparisons with Cetacean Communities of Two other Tropical Ecosystems},

author = {Ballance,L.T,Pitman,R.L.},

year  = {1998},

date = {1998-01-01},

journal = {Marine Mammal Science},

volume = {14},

number = {321},

pages = {429-459},

abstract = {We conducted a cetacean survey in the pelagic western tropical Indian Ocean (WTIO) aboard an 85-m research vessel from March to July 1995, covering 9,784 linear km. Using 25x binoculars and line-transect methods, we recorded 589 sightings of 21 species. Stenella longirostris was the most abundant cetacean, in terms of number of individuals sighted, by an order of magnitude above any other species, while Physeter macrocephalus was the most frequently sighted, in terms of number of schools. Twelve species were widespread, seven were rare, and two were localized; our sightings include new distributional records for 12 species. Significant observations included the following: (1) Delphinus cf. tropicalis was abundant off the coast of Oman (16 sightings) and readily distinguishable in the field from D. delphis and D. capensis, (2) Balaenoptera musculus was fairly common and localized in the area of the Maldives (17 sightings), and (3) three sightings were made of an unidentified bottlenose whale tentatively referred to as Indopacetus (i.e., Mesoplodon) pacificus. We recorded 26 mixed-species cetacean schools, 43 schools with which seabirds associated, and 17 schools associated with tuna. Notable among these were mixed aggregations of Stenella attenuata, S. longirostris, yellowfin tuna, and seabirds. The cetacean community of the WTIO was similar to that of the eastern tropical Pacific (ETP) and the Gulf of Mexico (GM) in several respects. First, differences in abundance rank of individual species were small, with the result that common species were common and rare species were rare, regardless of ocean. Second, these differences in abundance were due primarily to differences in encounter rate, which varied with ocean by as much as 3,000%, and less so to school size, which generally varied less than 100%. Third, regardless of ocean, three species comprised the majority of cetaceans in the community, Stenella attenuata, S. longirostris, and S. coeruleoalba, representing 62%-82% of all individuals for all species. However, the rank order of abundance for these three species differed with ocean. Most notably, S. attenuata was abundant in the ETP and GM (abundance rank = 2 and 1, respectively) but much less common in the WTIO (abundance rank = 6). Although habitat preferences for S. attenuata appear to overlap considerably with those of S. longirostris in the ETP, our results suggest there may actually be significant differences between these two species. Detailed analysis of oceanographic correlates of distribution will be necessary in order to understand fully the habitat requirements of these pelagic dolphins, often the most conspicuous elements of tropical cetacean communities around the world.},

keywords = {abundance, cetacean, cetaceans, Distribution, dolphin, dolphins, Gulf of Mexico, habitat preference, Indian Ocean, Maldives, Mexico, Oman, relative abundance, seabirds, survey, whale},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Remarks on the distribution and migration of whales},

author = {Slijper,E.J.,Van Utrecht,W.L.,Naaktgeboren,C.},

year  = {1964},

date = {1964-01-01},

journal = {Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde},

volume = {34},

number = {475},

pages = {4-86},

abstract = {The authors gained the cooperation of the Netherlands Association of Ship Owners and the Royal Netherlands Navy in a project to collect all whale sightings from vessels sailing around the globe between 1954 and 1957. A total of 4500 reports of 11,000 animals were received, with the majority of observations coming from the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Vessels were given identification guides and all reported observations were scored on the perceived reliability of the identification.  All Rorqual whales were grouped together, and a further distinction was made between humpback, sperm, right whales and "little piked whales" (minke whales).  Sightings were plotted in 10 degree squares according to number of whales observed per 1000 hours steamed in daylight.  Special attention is given to the observations of Captain W.F.J. Morzer Bruins, who the authors describe as a keen naturalist whose observations hold more credibility than those of others.  His observations in the Indian Ocean include a high number of sperm whales off the southern coast of Oman and the Gulf of Aden in January-March and April-June, a scattering of stranded blue and fin whales along the W coast of India, and only 2 stranded and 2 live humpback whales (strandings both in India, and live sightings near Yemen/Oman border? and off S tip of India (near Maldives?).  The larger number of compiled sightings from vessels are presented by species.  Rorqual sightings were plentiful in the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea coasts of Oman and Pakistan, and in the Arabian Gulf (but not as plentiful as they were in the area between 30 and 40 degrees S.  The author concludes that the majority of the whales observed in the NIO do not belong to the Southern Hemisphere stock, but suggests that they migrate from the North Pacific through the Indonesian Archipelago and the Strait Malaya (despite very few observations here).  He briefly considers, but discards as unlikely, the hypothesis of a resident NIO stock.The total number of humpback whale sightings in the IO amounted to 500 (compared to 1618 rorqual sightings and 799 "whale" sightings).  The majority of animals were observed in coastal waters, and NIO sightings were generally concentrated in the months of Aug-Nov and Jan-April.  some of the highest recorded densities in the NIO are off of Pakistan  in the months of March, Aug, Oct, and December, but it is not clear how closely related this is to observer effort.  Observations are very few in May, June, July and September, and the authors do not link this to the monsoon -but rather conclude that the whales are not present at that time. Although few calves were observed in the NIO, those that were observed, were all observed in November, January or September (but no indication is given of calf size). The authors conclude that this is evidence that the observed whales do not belong to the S. Hem stock, but are more likely from the N.Pacific, despite the fact that there are "no sightings of humpbacks in the south China Sea or the Indonesian Archipelago that could support this assumption".  Sperm whales were observed with regularity throughout the year in the NIO, but in lower densities than Rorquals.  A low number of sightings in the NIO during summer months again leads the author to conclude that the animals either migrate South or to the N. Pacific.  This species, according to the authors is always associated with areas of high productivity.Minke whales were recorded in low densities in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Pakistan, but not in the central or Northern coasts of Oman.},

keywords = {Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Atlantic, density, Distribution, fin whale, Gulf of Aden, Humpback Whale, humpback whales, India, Indian Ocean, Maldives, migration, minke whale, minke whales, North Pacific, Oman, Pakistan, productivity, right whale, right whales, Southern Hemisphere, sperm whale, sperm whales, Strandings, whale, whales},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}