Artículo
Southern right whale Eubalaena australis in Golfo San Matías (Patagonia, Argentina): Evidence of recolonisation
Arias, Magdalena
; Coscarella, Mariano Alberto
; Romero, Maria Alejandra
; Sueyro, Nicolás
; Svendsen, Guillermo
; Crespo, Enrique Alberto
; González, Raul Alberto Candido
Fecha de publicación:
12/2018
Editorial:
Public Library of Science
Revista:
Plos One
e-ISSN:
1932-6203
Idioma:
Inglés
Tipo de recurso:
Artículo publicado
Clasificación temática:
Resumen
Since the 1980s, the distribution range of the southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) in Argentina was mostly located in the winter calving grounds around Península Valdés. After the international moratorium that forbade the commercial hunting, southern right whales have shown signs of recovery during the last few decades. Nowadays, it is thought that the species is experiencing a density-dependent process while expanding its distribution range in Patagonia. From 2007 to 2016, data on right whale distribution, group composition and relative abundance were collected in Golfo San Matías, Patagonia through aerial surveys. Generalized linear models with a negative binomial error distribution were used to determine the population trend of right whales in this area. In addition, the group composition and the relative abundance of right whales among the northern Patagonian gulfs were compared. Finally, a literature review was conducted to assess the historical presence of right whales in Golfo San Matías, revealing the presence of right whales in Golfo San Matías during and after the commercial exploitation. During aerial surveys (2007–2016), right whales were observed from August to October in the area, with a peak in late August-early September. Our results suggested a geographic distribution change with a regular use of the northwest coast of the gulf in recent years and a positive trend in the population growth rate inside Golfo San Matías. This area was dominated by unaccompanied whales (solitary individuals and breeding groups) as opposed to Península Valdés where the dominant group type was the mother calf pairs. Therefore, Golfo San Matías appears to be important for socializing and mating but not as a nursery ground. In addition, the density of whales was four times greater in the gulfs of Península Valdés. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the recovery of this species in Patagonia, Argentina and should be considered for the management measures for right whales in this region.
Palabras clave:
Geographic distribution
,
Migration
,
Population trend
,
Recolonization
Archivos asociados
Licencia
Identificadores
Colecciones
Articulos(CESIMAR)
Articulos de CENTRO PARA EL ESTUDIO DE SISTEMAS MARINOS
Articulos de CENTRO PARA EL ESTUDIO DE SISTEMAS MARINOS
Articulos(SEDE CENTRAL)
Articulos de SEDE CENTRAL
Articulos de SEDE CENTRAL
Citación
Arias, Magdalena; Coscarella, Mariano Alberto; Romero, Maria Alejandra; Sueyro, Nicolás; Svendsen, Guillermo; et al.; Southern right whale Eubalaena australis in Golfo San Matías (Patagonia, Argentina): Evidence of recolonisation
; Public Library of Science; Plos One; 13; 12; 12-2018; 1-18; e0207524
Compartir
Altmétricas