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

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