Dear MARMAM
On behalf of my colleagues, I am pleased to announce the publication of our new paper in Marine Mammal Science:
Shabangu FW, Stafford KM, Findlay K. 2020. Seasonal acoustic occurrence, diel‐vocalizing patterns and bioduck
call‐type composition of Antarctic minke whales off the west coast of
South Africa and the Maud Rise, Antarctica. Marine Mammal Science, https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12669.
Abstract
Seasonal occurrence, diel‐vocalizing patterns, and call‐types of
Antarctic minke whales are described using bio‐acoustic recordings from
the west coast of South Africa and the Maud Rise, Antarctica. In
Antarctica, minke whale bioduck calls were detected in seven of nine
months of hydrophone deployment (peaking in May and September) while
downsweeps were only detected in June. Bioduck calls were sporadically
detected in South African waters with peak calling in September/October,
and no bioducks were detected from March through August. Bioduck call
occurrence was high during daytime in Antarctica but there was no
diel‐vocalizing pattern in South African waters. We split bioduck B
call‐type into two subtypes: B1 with 13 ± 1 pulses (Dominello &
Širović, 2016) and B2 with 9 ± 1 pulses (this study). Bioduck B2 was
detected both in Antarctic and South African waters, with harmonics up
to 2 kHz. Similar bioduck call‐types were detected in Antarctic and
South African waters, with bioduck A2 being the most common. Month of
the year was the most important predictor of bioduck occurrence both in
Antarctic and South African waters. This is the first study to describe
the seasonal occurrence, diel‐vocalizing behavior and call‐types of
Antarctic minke whales off the South African west coast and eastern Weddell Sea.
Best,
Fannie
Fannie W. Shabangu, PhD
Marine
Biologist
Pr.
Nat. Sci. (Zoological Science) SACNASP Reg. No. 400251/15
Pelagic
Resources Research
Department
of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries
Foreshore,
Cape Town, South Africa
Tel:
(+27) 21 402 3553
Cell:
(+27) 74 220 0210