Distribution, abundance and biology of Group V humpback whales ...

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Cover photograph: Humpback whales observed in Hervey Bay Marine Park. Photo: Laura Pitt Acknowledgements: The assistance of Dr Peter Corkeron and Dr Robert Peterson in providing constructive criticism of the draft report is gratefully acknowledged. Distribution, abundance and biology of Group V humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae: A review ISSN 1037-4701 © The State of Queensland, Environmental Protection Agency 2002 Copyright protects this publication. Except for purposes permitted by the Copyright Act, storage, transmission or reproduction of all or any part by any means is prohibited without the prior written permission of the Environmental Protection Agency. RE438 August 2002 Produced by the Environmental Protection Agency Visit us online at www.epa.qld.gov.au
Contents 1 Introduction......................................................... 2 2 Conservation status ............................................ 2 2.1 Status in Queensland............................................... 2 2.2 Status in Australia .................................................... 2 2.3 International status................................................... 3 3 Classifi cation and description ........................... 3 3.1 Taxonomic classifi cation........................................... 3 3.2 Species description .................................................. 4 4 Distribution .......................................................... 5 4.1 Global distribution..................................................... 5 4.2 Distribution of southern hemisphere stocks ............. 5 4.3 Distribution of Group V population............................ 5 4.4 Distribution in Queensland ....................................... 5 4.4.1 Moreton Bay Region....................................... 6 4.4.2 Swain Reef Complex and Bell Cay................. 7 4.4.3 Whitsunday Region ........................................ 7 4.4.4 Cairns Region ................................................ 8 4.4.5 Hervey Bay Marine Park................................. 8 5 Migration and site fi delity................................... 9 5.1 Group V migratory route........................................... 9 5.2 Herd structure and behaviour................................... 9 5.3 Site fi delity and habitat preference ......................... 10 6 Individual identifi cation .................................... 11 6.1 Non-manipulative sampling techniques.................. 11 6.1.1 Photo-identifi cation....................................... 11 6.1.2 Sloughed skin sampling ............................... 12 6.1.3 Acoustic tracking .......................................... 12 6.2 Manipulative sampling techniques ......................... 12 6.2.1 “Discovery tags”............................................ 12 6.3 Biopsy sampling ..................................................... 13 6.4 Telemetry................................................................ 13 7 Reproduction ..................................................... 13 7.1 Age and length ....................................................... 13 7.2 Female reproduction and behaviour....................... 13 7.3 Maternal condition and sex ratio ............................ 14 7.4 Male reproduction and behaviour........................... 14 8 Population estimates & rates of increase ....... 15 8.1 Southern hemisphere population estimates........... 15 8.2 Group V population estimates ................................ 15 8.3 Group V rates of increase....................................... 16 9 References......................................................... 18 1 • Distribution, abundance and biology of Group V humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae: A review • August 2002
Page 1: Distribution, abundance and biology
Page 5: Figure 1. Queensland marine parks a
Page 8 and 9: Figure 4. Group IV and V distributi
Page 10 and 11: The main calving ground of the east
Page 12 and 13: During the northern migration there
Page 14 and 15: 6.1.2 Sloughed skin sampling Slough
Page 16 and 17: Variations in the abundance of prey
Page 18 and 19: Appendix 1. Summary of population e
Page 20 and 21: Craig, A.S. & Herman, L.M. 1997. Se
Page 22: 20 • Distribution, abundance and

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