Humpback whale monitoring in Glacier Bay and adjacent waters 2014: Annual progress report
Neilson JL, Gabriele CM, Vanselow PB. 2015. Humpback whale monitoring in Glacier Bay and adjacent waters 2014: Annual progress report. Natural Resource Report. NPS/GLBA/NRR—2015/949. 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 2014, the thirtieth consecutive year of consistent data collection in Glacier Bay and Icy Strait (GB-IS). From June through August, the number of whales in GB-IS (n = 173) represented a 28% decline in abundance compared to 2013 and the largest inter-annual decline in whale numbers since monitoring began (1985-2014 inter-annual range: -28% to +37%). Compared to past years, fewer whales met our definition of ‘resident’ and a high proportion of whales (0.34) were identified on just one day. Between early August and late October, an unprecedented number of mothers (5 of 14) appeared to be missing their calves. We collected 15 sloughed skin samples, including samples from two calves, for genetic analysis. Similar to past years, we primarily detected capelin (Mallotus villosus) and sand lance (Ammodytes hexapterus) as whale prey. We documented several whale/human interactions, and whale #539 (“Max”), a well-known adult female who frequented GB-IS, was found dead from a ship strike in Chatham Strait. In summary, all metrics by which we measure the local whale population noted a decline or anomaly in 2014. We discuss possible reasons why this was an unusual year for humpback whales in GB-IS, including oceanographic conditions of increased turbidity and temperature, and explore various explanations for the missing calves.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Neilson, Janet; Gabriele, Christine; Vanselow, Phoebe
- Date of Issue
- 2015-04
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- GLBA , NRSS
- Keywords
- Central North Pacific stock, Counts, Glacier Bay, humpback, Icy Strait, Monitoring, National Park, Whale
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Marine Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Mammals , Ecological Framework: Human Use | Visitor and Recreation Use | Visitor Use