Monitoring Plan for Nine Distinct Population Segments of the Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
September 01, 2016
Plan for monitoring the nine Distinct Population Segments (DPSs) of the humpback whale that were not listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) when the status of the humpback whale was revised.
This Monitoring Plan has three primary goals:
- monitor each distinct population segment to detect changes in trends in production of calves and adult/juvenile abundance and population growth rates, and distinguish if changes are a threat or a signal that the distinct population segment is approaching or has surpassed carrying capacity
- monitor the distinct population segments to detect changes in spatial and temporal distribution
- monitor residual or emerging threats, and identify new threats that could affect the sustainability of the recovery of the humpback whale distinct population segment