Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-08T02:14:55.806Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Occurrence and habitat use of Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera edeni) in the Cabo Frio region, South-eastern Brazil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 October 2016

Israel S. Maciel*
Affiliation:
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Rodovia BR 465, km 7, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro 23890-970, Brazil Laboratório de Bioacústica e Ecologia de Cetáceos, Departamento de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Rodovia BR 465, km 7 Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro 23890-970, Brazil
Rodrigo H. Tardin
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Bioacústica e Ecologia de Cetáceos, Departamento de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Rodovia BR 465, km 7 Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro 23890-970, Brazil Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida São Francisco Xavier, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 20550-013, Brazil
Sheila M. Simão
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Bioacústica e Ecologia de Cetáceos, Departamento de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Rodovia BR 465, km 7 Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro 23890-970, Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: I.S. Maciel Laboratório de Bioacústica e Ecologia de Cetáceos, Departamento de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Rodovia BR 465, km 7 Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro 23890-970, Brazil Email: [email protected]

Abstract

Ninety-six field trips were conducted between summer 2010 and 2012 in order to understand the occurrence and habitat use of Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) in the Cabo Frio region, South-eastern Brazil. Bryde's whales were present in the study area between November and July, being observed during all seasons, but occur more frequently during the autumn (Nindividuals = 16) and spring (Nindividuals = 13), followed by summer (Nindividuals = 5) and winter (Nindividuals = 2), respectively. Bryde's whales were observed in water depths ranging from 20.1–100 m. Furthermore, during 2240 min of video recordings, the most frequent behaviour observed was foraging (40.2%; 900 min). Travelling comprised 28.1% (630 min) of observations, while in 33.1% (710 min) behaviour could not be determined. Taking into account the pattern of occurrence, the use of deeper bathymetric bins and the frequency observed, the foraging behaviour of Bryde's whales observed in our study seems to be associated to prey dynamics. Our data show that the study area is frequently used for foraging by this species in Brazilian waters.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Altmann, J. (1974) Observational study of behaviour: sampling methods. Behaviour 49, 227267.Google Scholar
Alves, F., Dinis, A., Cascão, I. and Freitas, L. (2010) Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera brydei) stable associations and dive profiles: new insights into foraging behaviour. Marine Mammal Science 26, 202212.Google Scholar
Ballance, L.T., Pitman, R.L. and Fiedler, P.C. (2006) Oceanographic influences on seabirds and cetaceans of the eastern tropical Pacific: a review. Progress in Oceanography 69, 360390.Google Scholar
Benson, S.R., Croll, D.A., Marinovic, B.B., Chavez, F.P. and Harvey, J.T. (2002) Changes in the cetacean assemblage of a coastal upwelling ecosystem during El Niño 1997–98 and La Niña 1999. Progress in Oceanography 54, 279291.Google Scholar
Best, P.B. (2001) Distribution and population separation of Bryde's whale Balaenoptera edeni off southern Africa. Marine Ecology. Progress Series 220, 277289.Google Scholar
Best, P.B., Butterworth, D.S. and Rickett, L.H. (1984) An assessment cruise for the South African inshore stock of Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera edeni). Report of the International Whaling Commission 34, 403423.Google Scholar
Chavez, A.M. (2006) Caracterizacion del habitat de grandes cetáceos del Golfo de Califórnia durante el invierno. PhD thesis. Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, Bolívia.Google Scholar
Clapham, P. (2000) The humpback whale. Seasonal feeding and breeding in a baleen whale. In Mann, J., Connor, R.C., Tyack, P.L. and Whitehead, H. (eds) Cetacean societies: field studies of dolphins and whales. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, pp. 173196.Google Scholar
Coutinho, P.N. (1969) Preliminary investigations of the sediments between Cabo Frio and São Sabastiao Island (Brazil). Trabalhos Oceanograficos. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Pernabuco 9, 5166.Google Scholar
Dywer, S.L., Clement, D.M., Pawley, M.D.M. and Stoking, K.A. (2016) Distribution and relative density of cetaceans in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 50, 457480.Google Scholar
Espécie, M.A., Tardin, R.H. and Simão, S.M. (2010) Degrees of residence of Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) in Ilha Grande Bay, south-eastern Brazil: a preliminary assessment. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 90, 16331639.Google Scholar
Figueiredo, L.D., Tardin, R.H., Lodi, L., Maciel, I.S., dos Santos Alves, M.A. and Simão, S.M. (2015) Photo-id catalog points to some degree of Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera edeni) site fidelity to Cabo Frio region, southeastern Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Aquatic Science and Technology 18, 5964.Google Scholar
Gallardo, V.A., Arcos, D., Salamanca, M. and Pastene, L.A. (1983) On the occurrence of Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera edeni Anderson 1878) in an upwelling area off central Chile. Report of the International Whaling Commission 33, 481488.Google Scholar
Goetz, K.T., Rugh, D.J., Read, A.J. and Hobbs, R.C. (2007) Habitat use in a marine ecosystem: beluga whales Delphinapterus leucas in Cook Inlet, Alaska. Marine Ecology Progress Series 330, 247256.Google Scholar
Gonzalez-Rodriguez, E., Valentin, J.L., Andre, D.L. and Jacob, S.A. (1992) Upwelling and down welling at Cabo Frio (Brazil): comparison of biomass and primary production responses. Journal of Plankton Research 14, 289306.Google Scholar
Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) (2015) www.ibge.gov.br/Google Scholar
Jarman, S.N., Wiseman, N., Baker, C.S. and Gales, N.J. (2006) Incidence of prey DNA types in Bryde's whale scats. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission SC/58 E, 29.Google Scholar
Kato, H. and Perrin, W. F. (2009) Bryde's whales Balaenoptera edeni and B. brydei. In Perrin, W.F., Würsig, B. and Thewissen, J.G.M. (eds) Encyclopedia of marine mammals. 2nd edition. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, pp. 158163.Google Scholar
Kerosky, S.M., Širović, A., Roche, L.K., Baumann-Pickering, S., Wiggins, S.M. and Hildebrand, J.A. (2012) Bryde's whale seasonal range expansion and increasing presence in the Southern California Bight from 2000 to 2010. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers 65, 125132.Google Scholar
Lodi, L. and Borobia, M. (2013) Baleias, Botos e Golfinhos do Brasil: Guia deIdentificação. Rio de Janeiro: Technical Books, pp. 170175.Google Scholar
Mann, J. (1999) Behavioral sampling methods for cetaceans: a review and critique. Marine Mammal Science 15, 102122.Google Scholar
Maze-Foley, K. and Mullin, K.D. (2006) Cetaceans of the oceanic northern Gulf of Mexico: distributions, group sizes and interspecific associations. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 8, 203213.Google Scholar
Moreira da Silva, A.P.C. (1977) Upwelling and its biological effects in southern Brazil. Canadian Journal of Zoology 67, 22012211.Google Scholar
Muehe, D. and Carvalho, V.G. (1993) Geomorfologia, cobertura sedimentar e transporte de sedimentos na plataforma continental interna entre a Ponta de Saquarema e o Cabo Frio (RJ). Boletim do Instituto Oceanográfico 41, 112.Google Scholar
Omura, H. (1959) Bryde's whale from the coast of Japan. Scientific Report of the Whales Research Institute 14, 133.Google Scholar
Paiva, M.P. and Motta, P.C.S. (2000) Cardumes da sardinha-verdadeira, Sardinella brasiliensis (Steindachner), em águas costeiras do estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia 17, 339346.Google Scholar
Palacios, D.M. (2003) Oceanographic conditions around the Galápagos Archipelago and their influence on cetacean community structure. Dissertation. Oregon State University, Portland, Oregon.Google Scholar
Pardo, M.A. and Palacios, D.M. (2006) Cetacean occurrence in the Santa Marta region, Colombian Caribbean, 2004–2005. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals 5, 129134.Google Scholar
Penry, G.S. (2010) The biology of South African Bryde's whales. PhD thesis, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland, pp. 69–95.Google Scholar
Reilly, S.B., Bannister, J.L., Best, P.B., Brown, M., Brownell, R.L. Jr., Butterworth, D.S., Clapham, P.J., Cooke, J., Donovan, G.P., Urbán, J. and Zerbini, A.N. (2008) Balaenoptera edeni. In IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 30 May 2014.Google Scholar
Rocha-Campos, C.C. and Câmara, I.G. (2011) Plano de Ação Nacional para Conservação dos Mamíferos Aquáticos: Grandes Cetáceos e Pinípedes. Brasília: Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade.Google Scholar
Salvadeo, C.J., Flores-Ramirez, S., Gómez-Gallardo, A., MacLeod, C., Lluch-Belda, D., Jaume-Schinkel, S. and Urban, J. (2011) Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) in the southwestern Gulf of California: relationship with ENSO variability and prey availability. Ciencias Marinas 37, 215225.Google Scholar
Siciliano, S., de Oliveira Santos, M.C., Vicente, A.F., Alvarenga, F.S., Zampirolli, E., Brito, J.L. and Pizzorno, J.L.A. (2004) Strandings and feeding records of Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera edeni) in south-eastern Brazil. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 84, 857859.Google Scholar
Tershy, B.R. (1992) Body size, diet, habitat use, and social behaviour of Balaenoptera whales in the Gulf of California. Journal of Mammalogy 73, 477486.Google Scholar
Thompson, K.F., O'Callaghan, T.M., Dalebout, M.L. and Baker, C.S. (2002) Population ecology of Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera edeni) in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand: preliminary observations. Reports of the International Whaling Commission 54, 18.Google Scholar
Valentin, J.L., Andre, D.L. and Jacob, S.A. (1987) Hydrobiology in the Cabo Frio (Brazil) upwelling two-dimensional structure and variability during a wind cycle. Continental Shelf Research 7, 7788.Google Scholar
Wiseman, N., Parsons, S., Stockin, K.A. and Baker, C.S. (2011) Seasonal occurrence and distribution of Bryde's whales in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. Marine Mammal Science 27, E253E267.Google Scholar
Zerbini, A.N., Secchi, E.R., Siciliano, S. and Simões-Lopes, P.C. (1997) A review of the occurrence and distribution of whales of the genus Balaenoptera along the Brazilian coast. Report of the International Whaling Commission 47, 407417.Google Scholar