dc.contributor |
Háskóli Íslands |
dc.contributor |
University of Iceland |
dc.contributor.author |
Basran, CJ |
dc.contributor.author |
Bertulli, CG |
dc.contributor.author |
Cecchetti, A |
dc.contributor.author |
Rasmussen, Marianne |
dc.contributor.author |
Whittaker, M |
dc.contributor.author |
Robbins, J |
dc.date.accessioned |
2020-10-07T11:08:49Z |
dc.date.available |
2020-10-07T11:08:49Z |
dc.date.issued |
2019-02-07 |
dc.identifier.citation |
Basran CJ, Bertulli CG, Cecchetti A, Rasmussen MH, Whittaker M, Robbins J (2019) First estimates of entanglement rate of humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae observed in coastal Icelandic waters. Endang Species Res 38:67-77. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00936 |
dc.identifier.issn |
1863-5407 |
dc.identifier.issn |
1613-4796 (eISSN) |
dc.identifier.uri |
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/2098 |
dc.description |
Publisher's version (útgefin grein) |
dc.description.abstract |
Entanglement in fishing gear is a significant anthropogenic source of large whale injury and mortality. Although entanglements have been reported in the eastern North Atlantic, their frequency has not been previously estimated. This study used systematic scar analysis to estimate the frequency of non-lethal entanglements among individual humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae off coastal Iceland, from 2005 through 2017. Images of the caudal peduncle and fluke insertions of 379 individuals were analyzed for wrapping injuries and notches known to be indicative of entanglement. The results indicated that at least 24.8% (n = 94, 95% confidence intervals [95% CI]: 20.5-29.1%) of individuals had a history of prior entanglement when first encountered. Depending on the metric used, the whales subsequently acquired new entanglement-related injuries at an average rate of 1.9% (95% CI: 0.6-3.2%) or 16.3% (95% CI: 3.0-29.3%) per year, with no statistically significant change over time. Furthermore, evidence suggests that at least some entanglements occurred locally. Observations of whales with gear still entangling the body confirmed the patterns of injury studied here. These results are lower than scar-based estimates from other parts of the world, but the cause of this difference requires further study. Scar-based methods underestimate the frequency of prior entanglement because some injuries heal beyond recognition, do not involve the caudal peduncle, and may occur on whales that die before they are studied. Long-term monitoring of humpback whale entanglement in Icelandic coastal waters is important for evaluating the local effects of fisheries, as well as the viability of the endangered Cape Verde breeding population. |
dc.description.sponsorship |
This work was funded in part by a
National Geographic Explorer Grant awarded by the
National Geographic Society, a PhD sponsorship grant
awarded by Gentle Giants Whale Watching, and a Doctoral
Grant awarded by Rannís Icelandic Research Fund. We
thank all the students at the University of Iceland’s Húsavík
Research Center for contributing data, the Faxaflói Ceta -
cean Research volunteers (in Húsavík and Reykjavík), and
all the whale-watching companies in Iceland who showed
interest in the project and contributed photographs and/or
space onboard their vessels for data collection. Furthermore,
we thank the anonymous reviewers, who provided valuable
input into the manuscript. Photographs used in the figures
are copyright of University of Iceland (Figs. 2,3,4a1,b,c, 5 &
6a,b,d) Elding Adventures at Sea (Fig. 6c), and Charlie
Frank Lavin (Elding Whale Watching Akureyri) (Fig. 4a2). |
dc.format.extent |
67-77 |
dc.language.iso |
en |
dc.publisher |
Inter-Research Science Center |
dc.relation.ispartofseries |
Endangered Species Research;38 |
dc.rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
dc.subject |
Entanglement |
dc.subject |
Humpback whales |
dc.subject |
Iceland |
dc.subject |
Megaptera novaeangliae |
dc.subject |
North Atlantic |
dc.subject |
Scar analysis |
dc.subject |
Hnúfubakur |
dc.subject |
Norður-Atlantshaf |
dc.subject |
Netaveiðar |
dc.title |
First estimates of entanglement rate of humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae observed in coastal Icelandic waters |
dc.type |
info:eu-repo/semantics/article |
dcterms.license |
Open Access under Creative Commons by
Attribution Licence. Use, distribution and reproduction are un -
restricted. Authors and original publication must be credited. |
dc.description.version |
Peer Reviewed |
dc.identifier.journal |
Endangered Species Research |
dc.identifier.doi |
10.3354/ESR00936 |
dc.relation.url |
https://www.int-res.com/articles/esr2019/38/n038p067.pdf |
dc.contributor.department |
Líf- og umhverfisvísindadeild (HÍ) |
dc.contributor.department |
Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences (UI) |
dc.contributor.department |
Rannsóknasetur á Húsavík (HÍ) |
dc.contributor.department |
Research Centre in Húsavík (UI) |
dc.contributor.school |
Verkfræði- og náttúruvísindasvið (HÍ) |
dc.contributor.school |
School of Engineering and Natural Sciences (UI) |