Hi MARMAM, On behalf of all Authors I am pleased to announce publication in the ‘Just In’ section of the Canadian Journal of Zoology of: Site-specific female-biased sex ratio of humpback whales during a stopover early in the southern migration Trish Franklin; , Wally Franklin; , Lyndon Brooks; , Peter L Harrison Published on the web 20 December 2017. Received March 28, 2017. Canadian Journal of Zoology, https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2017-0086 <https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2017-0086> <> ABSTRACT Previous research on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski, 1781)), in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, has reported site-specific male-biased sex ratios in breeding grounds and along migratory corridors. However, one recent Southern Hemisphere study reported a female-biased sex ratio in a feeding area within a coastal migratory corridor, indicating that females may preferentially occupy some habitats. We investigated the classes and relative seasonal timing of humpback whales using Hervey Bay as a stopover early in the southern migration. Modeling and analyzes were undertaken using data from resighting histories of 361 individually identified whales between 1992 and 2009. The data consisted of 2,131 sightings categorized by either sex, age, reproductive or maturational status. A female-biased sex ratio of 2.94:1 indicates that Hervey Bay is a preferential stopover for females. The data revealed that the bay is important for mature females who co-occur with immature males and females during August. While during September and October mothers with calves accompanied by a few escorts dominate the Bay. Immature males and females socialize with mature females during August and September. The data support the hypothesis that habitat preferences and differential migration of females and males provides a plausible explanation for site-specific sex-bias in breeding grounds, migratory stopovers and along migratory corridors. For those with a Canadian Journal of Zoology subscription an unformatted pdf of the accepted manuscript is available at: https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2017-0086 <https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2017-0086> The formatted manuscript is scheduled to be published in Volume 96, May 2018 Issue of the Canadian Journal of Zoology. We will repost notification upon publication in the above issue. Any enquiries regarding the manuscript please contact: trish@oceania.org.au <mailto:trish@oceania.org.au> Regards, Trish Franklin, on behalf of all Authors ........................................................................ Trish Franklin PhD The Oceania Project PO Box 646 Byron Bay NSW 2481 Australia ABN 73 052 470 630 ACN 052 470 630 Phone: 0418 797 326 Skype: oceania.org.au Email: <mailto:trish@oceania.org.au>trish@oceania.org.au <mailto:wally@oceania.org.au> Web: <http://www.oceania.org.au/> The Oceania Project <http://www.oceania.org.au/> iWhales.org <http://www.iwhales.org/> Songlines - Songs of the eastern Australian humpback whales <http://www.songlinesofthewhales.org/> The Oceania Project | Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/oceania> <https://vimeo.com/iwhales>The Oceania Project | Vimeo <https://vimeo.com/iwhales> The Oceania Project | SoundCloud <https://soundcloud.com/iwhales> The Oceania Project <http://www.youtube.com/user/TheOceaniaProject>| <https://soundcloud.com/iwhales>YouTube <http://www.youtube.com/user/TheOceaniaProject> Southern Cross University Whale Research Centre <https://www.scu.edu.au/research-centres/marine-ecology-research-centre/whales-and-dolphins/whale-and-dolphin-research/hervey-bay-whale-research-project/> <https://soundcloud.com/iwhales> <http://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/357/>Dr Trish Franklin <http://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/357/> | <https://soundcloud.com/iwhales> <https://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/357/>PhD Thesis <http://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/357/> Google Scholar Citations <https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=RAOLIrMAAAAJ&hl=en&authuser=1> <http://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/422/>Dr Wally Franklin <http://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/422/> <http://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/422/>| <https://soundcloud.com/iwhales>PhD Thesis <http://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/422/> <https://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/422/> Google Scholar Citations <https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=2wA6lL8AAAAJ&hl=en> Humpback whales - Spread the Story <https://www.gofundme.com/theoceaniaproject>