The spatial association of blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) with krill patches (Thysanoessa spp. and Meganyctiphanes norvegica) in the estuary and northwestern Gulf of St. Lawrence / McQuinn, I.H....: Fs70-5/2016-104E-PDF
"The St. Lawrence Estuary is known as a summer foraging area for several species of marine mammals, including several species of rorquals. Among these is the blue whale, which feeds almost exclusively on euphausiids. Therefore, the abundance, distribution and local density of krill should logically be a strong explanatory variable for the distribution of blue whales. However little is known about the spatial association of blue whales with the aggregation dynamics of krill in eastern Canada. Six years of acoustic surveys of which four were combined with marine mammal observations were undertaken to study the medium- and small-scale distribution of blue whales and krill within the northwestern Gulf of St. Lawrence and estuary. We show that there are several areas of krill aggregation throughout the study area that are frequented by blue whales in summer on a recurring and, at times, intensive basis, i.e. by several whales at the same time. Krill aggregations in these areas vary inter-annually in biomass and species composition. In addition, we show that the distribution of blue whales is more strongly associated with the density distribution of Thysanoessa spp. (predominantly T. raschii) than Meganyctiphanes norvegica. Densities of blue whales were greatest in slope areas where T. raschii preferentially aggregate. T. raschii forms denser aggregations and is distributed higher in the water column than M. norvegica, resulting in more biomass available to air-breathing predators at lesser energetic cost. In particular, we show that blue whales are specifically associated with shallow water krill swarms (0-80 m) more than all other krill configurations during daytime. This suggests that blue whales are not necessarily attracted to areas of high total biomass or the highest integrated density of krill aggregations, but rather to areas of more accessible krill biomass of which shallow-water, daytime swarms are disproportionately selected."--Abstract, p. iv.
Permanent link to this Catalogue record:
publications.gc.ca/pub?id=9.829200&sl=0
| Department/Agency | Canada. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Canada. Ecosystems and Oceans Science. Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat. |
|---|---|
| Title | The spatial association of blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) with krill patches (Thysanoessa spp. and Meganyctiphanes norvegica) in the estuary and northwestern Gulf of St. Lawrence / McQuinn, I.H. ... [et al.]. |
| Variant title | Title at head of French abstract: Association spatiale des baleines bleues (Balaenoptera musculus) avec des taches de krill (Thysanoessa spp. et Meganyctiphanes norvegica) dans l'estuaire et le nord-ouest du golfe du Saint-Laurent |
| Series title | Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat research document, 1919-5044 ; 2016/104, Quebec Region |
| Publication type | Series - View Master Record |
| Language | [English] |
| Format | Electronic |
| Electronic document | |
| Note(s) | Cover title. “December 2016.” Includes bibliographical references (p. 7-9). Includes abstract in French. |
| Publishing information | Ottawa : Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, 2016. |
| Author / Contributor | McQuinn, Ian H. |
| Description | iv, 19 p. : graphs |
| Catalogue number |
|
| Subject terms | Whales Fisheries management |
Request alternate formats
To request an alternate format of a publication, complete the Government of Canada Publications email form. Use the form’s “question or comment” field to specify the requested publication.- Date modified: