Dear Colleagues, The scientific article "Distribution of humpback whales off north-west Australia highlighting Exmouth Gulf nursery area" is published in Australian Journal of Zoology. Free download: https://www.publish.csiro.au/ZO/ZO24020 Authors: Kate Sprogis, Alicia Sutton, Micheline Jenner, Curt Jenner. Abstract: Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) migrate from their Antarctic feeding grounds to their north-west Australian breeding grounds. North-west Australia has experienced rapid development of the mining and petroleum industry, and remains under increasing human pressure. The aim of this study was to examine the spatiotemporal distribution of humpback whales across the north-west; North West Cape, Pilbara and Exmouth Gulf. Aerial surveys (n = 184) were conducted from 2000 to 2010. After accounting for survey effort, kernel density estimation was used to assess the monthly distribution of whales. The largest density hotspot of whale groups was the centre to western edge of Exmouth Gulf. The highest encounter rate of mother-calf pairs was in October in Exmouth Gulf (0.0447 ± 0.0082 groups/km), which was significantly higher compared to the North West Cape and Pilbara (0.0005 ± 0.0002 and 0.0011 ± 0.0005 groups/km, respectively). The comparison among the three regions confirms and quantifies Exmouth Gulf as an important nursery area for humpback whale mother-calf pairs. Nursery areas are important for lactating humpback whale mothers as they carry the highest energetic demands in the population. It is crucial that nursery areas remain relatively undisturbed from human pressures so mothers can rest to conserve energy and nurse their young. Citation: Sprogis, K. R., A. L. Sutton, M.-N. Jenner, and K. C. S. Jenner. 2024. Distribution of humpback whales off north-west Australia highlighting Exmouth Gulf nursery area. Australian Journal of Zoology. https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO24020 Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. Kind regards, On behalf of all authors Kate Sprogis, PhD Lecturer UWA Oceans Institute * School of Biological Sciences Great Southern Marine Research Facility UWA Albany campus WA 6330 Australia kate.sprogis@uwa.edu.au [cid:image001.png@01DB3CC9.C8306730] [cid:image002.jpg@01DB3CC9.C8306730] We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Noongar-Menang Country and pay our respects to custodians of the land and sea on which we live and work. Recent publications: * Sprogis K. R., and F. Christiansen 2024. Allosuckling in southern right whale calves. Mammalian Biology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-023-00392-1 * Arranz P., R. De la Cruz-Modino, and K.R. Sprogis. 2024. Investigating the effects of underwater noise from two vessels on the behaviour of short-finned pilot whales. Marine Environmental Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106574.
