Seasonal and geographic variation of southern blue whale subspecies in the Indian Ocean

PLoS One. 2013 Aug 13;8(8):e71561. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071561. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Understanding the seasonal movements and distribution patterns of migratory species over ocean basin scales is vital for appropriate conservation and management measures. However, assessing populations over remote regions is challenging, particularly if they are rare. Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus spp) are an endangered species found in the Southern and Indian Oceans. Here two recognized subspecies of blue whales and, based on passive acoustic monitoring, four "acoustic populations" occur. Three of these are pygmy blue whale (B.m. brevicauda) populations while the fourth is the Antarctic blue whale (B.m. intermedia). Past whaling catches have dramatically reduced their numbers but recent acoustic recordings show that these oceans are still important habitat for blue whales. Presently little is known about the seasonal movements and degree of overlap of these four populations, particularly in the central Indian Ocean. We examined the geographic and seasonal occurrence of different blue whale acoustic populations using one year of passive acoustic recording from three sites located at different latitudes in the Indian Ocean. The vocalizations of the different blue whale subspecies and acoustic populations were recorded seasonally in different regions. For some call types and locations, there was spatial and temporal overlap, particularly between Antarctic and different pygmy blue whale acoustic populations. Except on the southernmost hydrophone, all three pygmy blue whale acoustic populations were found at different sites or during different seasons, which further suggests that these populations are generally geographically distinct. This unusual blue whale diversity in sub-Antarctic and sub-tropical waters indicates the importance of the area for blue whales in these former whaling grounds.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Balaenoptera* / classification
  • Ecosystem
  • Geographic Information Systems
  • Indian Ocean
  • Oceanography
  • Population Dynamics
  • Seasons*
  • Vocalization, Animal

Grants and funding

Funding for deployment and recovery for the hydrophone array in the Indian Ocean was provided by the Conseil Régional de Bretagne, the Institut National des Sciences de l’Univers (a department of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France), Institut Paul Emile Victor, Total Foundation and the NOAA’s Ocean Exploration and Research program that provided support to the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory to build the hydrophones and moorings for the DEFLO experiment. Analysis and writing were supported by French Minister of Ecology, Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises, University of La Rochelle. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.