New publication For pdf copies contact me or see http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/toc/mms/0/0 McSweeney, D.J., R.W. Baird, and S.D. Mahaffy. 2007. Site fidelity, associations and movements of Cuvier's (Ziphius cavirostris) and Blainville's (Mesoplodon densirostris) beaked whales off the island of Hawai'i. Marine Mammal Science 23: doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.2007.00135.x ABSTRACT Although the Ziphiidae are the second-most speciose family of cetaceans, information on beaked whale species and populations has been limited by the difficulties in finding and approaching free-ranging individuals. Site fidelity, patterns of association and movements of two species, Cuvier's (Ziphius cavirostris) and Blainville's (Mesoplodon densirostris) beaked whales, were assessed using a 21-year photographic dataset from the west coast of the island of Hawai'i. Re-sightings of individuals of both species spanned 15-years, suggesting long-term site fidelity to the area. Long-term re-sightings were documented primarily from adult females of both species. Group sizes for both species were small and most groups had only a single adult male present. For Blainville's beaked whales, repeated associations between adult females and adult males were documented for all re-sightings of adult males over periods from 1-154 days. Among adult females, while repeated associations occurred up to 9 years apart, individuals were seen separately in intervening years. Individuals of both species seen on multiple occasions were typically documented in multiple months/seasons, suggesting they may use the study area throughout the year. Such long-term site-fidelity has implications both for potential population structure and for susceptibility of beaked whale populations to anthropogenic impacts. More information on this research can be found at www.cascadiaresearch.org/robin/hawaii.htm ======================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Research Biologist Cascadia Research Collective 218 1/2 W. 4th Avenue Olympia, WA 98501 USA Phone 1-360-943-7325 Fax 1-360-943-7026 e-mail: rwbaird@cascadiaresearch.org www.cascadiaresearch.org/robin/robin.htm