Results of humpback whale monitoring in Glacier Bay and adjacent waters 2012: Annual progress report
Neilson JL, Gabriele CM, Vanselow PB. 2013. Results of humpback whale monitoring in Glacier Bay and adjacent waters 2012: Annual progress report. Natural Resource Technical Report. NPS/GLBA/NRTR—2013/796. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Migratory endangered humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) from the Central North Pacific stock use southeastern Alaska as summer feeding habitat, including the waters in and around Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (GLBA). This report summarizes the findings of GLBA’s humpback whale monitoring program in 2012, the twenty-eighth consecutive year of consistent data collection in Glacier Bay and Icy Strait (GB-IS). In June, July and August, the number of whales in GB-IS (n = 208) was the second highest count ever documented. Seventy-three percent of the whales, including 12 mother/calf pairs, met our definition of ‘resident’ (remaining 20 or more days). This highlights the importance of GB-IS as a summer feeding ground for humpback whales. Compared to the past two years, the number of whales in Icy Strait was up (n = 176 vs. n = 145 in 2010 and n = 157 in 2011) while the number of whales in Glacier Bay was down (n = 125 vs. n = 132 in 2010 and n = 149 in 2011). We documented 16 mother/calf pairs, including a calf with deformed flukes and large gray patches and dents of unknown origin on its body. We collected 16 sloughed skin samples (including seven samples from calves) for genetic analysis. Overall, we observed fewer whales feeding on capelin (Mallotus villosus) than in past years. In September, dense concentrations of pteropods (Limacina helicina) occurred in lower Glacier Bay and Icy Strait, although we did not observe any whales feeding on this known prey species. We documented several whale/human interactions, including two whale-vessel collisions in Icy Strait. Between July 20 and September 18, we observed unusually large shoals of whales (20-41 whales) around Point Adolphus in Icy Strait.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Neilson, Janet; Gabriele, Christine; Vanselow, Phoebe
- Date of Issue
- 2013-09
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- AKRO , GLBA , NRSS
- Keywords
- cruise ship, Glacier Bay, GLBA, Human, humpback, Icy Strait, interaction, Whale
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Marine Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Mammals