Dear colleagues,

we are pleased to announce the publication of the following paper:

Thomisch K, Boebel O, Bachmann J, Filun D, Neumann S, Spiesecke S and Van Opzeeland I (20019):

“Temporal patterns in the acoustic presence of baleen whale species in a presumed breeding area off Namibia”,

MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES, Vol. 620: 201–214,

https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12952

Abstract:

The eastern Atlantic Ocean is considered to provide important breeding and

wintering habitats for several migratory cetacean species. The spatio-temporal distributions and

migratory behaviors of cetaceans off southern Africa are nevertheless still poorly understood. This

study investigated the temporal patterns of acoustic occurrence of baleen whales in a presumed

baleen whale breeding area off Namibia using passive acoustic recordings collected between November

2011 and May 2013. Our results show seasonal acoustic presence of humpback whales

Megaptera novaeangliae, fin whales Balaenoptera physalus and Antarctic minke whales B.

bonaerensis from November to January and from June to August. Their acoustic absence from

February to May possibly indicates that most animals migrated to other areas (presumably in

higher latitudes) in austral summer to feed. By contrast, Antarctic blue whales B. musculus intermedia

were acoustically present throughout the recording period, indicating that part of the population

remains at lower latitudes year-round. Our findings support the presumed ecological importance

of the oceanic area off Namibia, providing (part of) a suitable cetacean wintering and,

possibly, breeding range or migratory corridor. Furthermore, the occurrence of Antarctic blue and

minke whales off Namibia, concurrent with their reported acoustic presence in high-latitude feeding

areas, adds to growing evidence that baleen whale migration is not obligate but much more dynamic

than has long been assumed.

The article can be found here: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12952

Please do not hesitate to contact me at karolin.thomisch@awi.de

Best regards,

Karolin Thomisch

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Dr. Karolin Thomisch

Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Ocean Acoustics Lab
Klussmannstr. 3d
27570 Bremerhaven

Phone:  +49 (471) 4831 1032
Mail:     karolin.thomisch@awi.de