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| Reference : Behavioural response of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) to anthropogenic app... |
| Scientific journals : Article | |||
| Life sciences : Environmental sciences & ecology Life sciences : Aquatic sciences & oceanology | |||
| http://hdl.handle.net/2268/116230 | |||
| Behavioural response of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) to anthropogenic approaches in Bahía San Antonio, Río Negro Argentina | |
| English | |
Cammareri, Alejandro  [ > > ] | |
| Vermeulen, Els [Université de Liège - ULg > > > Form.doct. sc. (océanographie - Bologne)] | |
| 1-Jul-2010 | |
| Report to the International Whaling Commission | |
| International | |
| [en] Southern right whale ; Tourism ; Conservation strategies | |
| [en] The behavioural response of southern right whales (SRWs) to human approaches was
studied in Bahia San Antonio, Río Negro Argentina, to obtain essential information for the evaluation of a recent authorized whale-based tourism and the implementation of accurate regulations and conservation measurements. A total of 50 SRW groups were approached with a small zodiac during the whale-seasons (June-October) of 2008 and 2009, accounting for a total of 39h of behavioural observations. The approaches occurred in a slow and controlled way up to a minimum distance of 100m. A focal animal observation (instantaneous point sample) was used to record three mutual exclusive behavioural states: rest, travel and socializing and/or aerial activity. Groups (chosen ad random) consisted out of solitary animals (0.52), Surface Active Groups (SAG; 0.32) and non-SAGs (0.13). Nevertheless, because of the low amount of data, up to now all behavioural responses were analysed regardless group composition. Results indicated that whales continued travelling during an approach, but doubled their time resting after an approach had finished (22% → 40%) and decreased drastically their time socializing or aerially active (21% → 2%). Although the probability that a whale remained in a social/aerially active behaviour when affected by anthropogenic approaches decreased notably (-22%), no significant effect could be found up to now (Z-test for 2 proportions, p>0.05), probably due to the relative small dataset. Nevertheless, the apparent change in SRW social behaviour requires urgently more detailed information to implement conservation strategies regulating adequately the commercial whale-based tourism in the area. | |
| Researchers ; Professionals | |
| http://hdl.handle.net/2268/116230 |
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