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Title: Cetacean Occurrence Offshore of Washington from Long-Term Passive Acoustic Monitoring
Status: Completed
Publication Date: 2021-07-24
Abstract:

A variety of cetacean species inhabit the productive waters offshore of Washington State, USA. Although the general presence of many of these species has been documented in this region, our understanding of fine-scale habitat use is limited. Here, passive acoustic monitoring was used to investigate the spatial and temporal distributions of ten cetacean species at three locations offshore of Washington. Between 2004 and 2013, a total of 2845 days of recordings were collected from sites on the continental shelf and slope, and in a submarine canyon. Acoustic presence was higher for all species at sites farther offshore. Detections were highest during the fall and winter for blue (Balaenoptera musculus), fin (B. physalus), and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), likely related to reproductive behavior, while minke whales (B. acutorostrata) were only detected on two days. Odontocetes showed temporal separation, with sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) detections highest in spring, Risso's (Grampus griseus) and Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) highest in summer, and Stejneger's beaked whales (Mesoplodon stejnegeri), Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris), and the BW37V signal type highest in winter or spring. There was interannual variation in detections for most mysticete species, which may be linked to oceanographic conditions: blue and fin whale detections increased during 2007 and 2008, and fin and humpback whale detections increased in 2011. These results inform our understanding of cetacean behavior and habitat use in this region and may aid in the development of conservation strategies suited to the dynamic conditions that drive cetacean distribution.

Other Citation Details:

Rice, A., Debich, A.J., Sirovic, A. et al. Cetacean occurrence offshore of Washington from long-term passive acoustic monitoring. Mar Biol 168, 136 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-021-03941-9

DOI (Digital Object Identifier): https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-021-03941-9

Publication Information

Publication Type: Journal
Series Name: Marine Biology
Series Issue: 168
Series Page: 136

Catalog Details

Catalog Item ID: 63443
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:63443
Metadata Record Created By: Erin M Oleson
Metadata Record Created: 2021-01-15 22:32+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By: SysAdmin InPortAdmin
Metadata Record Last Modified: 2022-08-09 17:11+0000
Metadata Record Published: 2022-05-05
Owner Org: PIFSC
Metadata Publication Status: Published Externally
Do Not Publish?: N
Metadata Last Review Date: 2022-05-05
Metadata Review Frequency: 1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date: 2023-05-05