Franklin, W., T. Franklin, N. Gibbs,
S. Childerhouse, C. Garrigue, R. Constantine, L. Brooks, D. Burns, D. Paton, M.
M. Poole, N. Hauser, M. Donoghue, K. Russell, D. K. Mattila, J. Robbins, M.
Anderson, C. Olavarria, J. Jackson, M. Noad, P. Harrison, P. Baverstock, R.
Leaper, S. C. Baker, and P. Clapham. 2014. Photo-identification confirms that
humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) from eastern Australia migrate past
New Zealand but indicates low levels of interchange with breeding grounds of
Oceania. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 14 (1):133-140.
ABSTRACT
Recent
photo-identification and genetic studies have identified at least five discrete
breeding populations in Australia and Oceania: western Australia (D), eastern
Australia (E (i)), New Caledonia (E (ii)), Tonga (E (iii)), French Polynesia
and the Cook Islands (F). Also evident are low levels of intermingling among
breeding populations consistent with the degree of genetic differentiation.
Photo-identification has confirmed linkages between Area V feeding areas and
eastern Australia breeding grounds and one genotype match has been reported
between Area V feeding areas and Oceania breeding grounds. Recent abundance
estimates show strong increases in the eastern Australian population, and some
recovery in the New Caledonia and Tonga populations, but with little evidence
of recovery at other known Oceania breeding grounds or New Zealand. Studies to
date have provided no conclusive evidence of the migratory destination of
humpback whales passing through New Zealand waters en route between
Antarctic feeding areas and tropical breeding grounds. Photo-identification
comparisons were undertaken between humpback whale fluke catalogues from
eastern Australia (EA, 1315), Oceania east (OE, 513), Oceania west (OW, 166)
and New Zealand (NZ, 13). Five matches were found between OE/OW, four matches
between OW/EA and three matches between NZ/EA. The data are used to investigate
and discuss the migratory destination and breeding ground migratory interchange
of humpback whales travelling through New Zealand waters. The data confirm that
humpback whales with site fidelity to eastern Australia migrate past New
Zealand including through the Cook Strait and Foveaux Strait.
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