Spatial Use of Cuvier's Beaked Whales and Short-finned Pilot Whales Satellite Tagged off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina: 2018 Annual Progress Report
Abstract
In 2014 a collaborative study between Cascadia Research Collective (CRC) and Duke University was initiated off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to examine the spatial use and diving behavior of multiple odontocete species using remotely deployed Low-Impact Minimally Percutaneous External-electronics Transmitter (LIMPET) satellite tags. This work builds upon and complements longer-term studies of movements and site fidelity of both Cuviers beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) and short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) off the North Carolina coast using photo-identification (photo-ID) (Swaim et al. 2014, Foley et al. 2015, 2016, 2017). While the primary focus has been on Cuviers beaked whales and short-finned pilot whales, in the first three years a number of other species were tagged as well. From 2014 through 2017, satellite-tag data were obtained from 96 individuals of seven species: 29 Cuviers beaked whales, 52 short-finned pilot whales, 10 common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), 2 common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), 1 Rissos dolphin (Grampus griseus), 1 Clymene dolphin (Stenella clymene), and 1 sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), ranging over periods from 1.3 to 354 days (Baird et al. 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018; Thorne et al. 2017; Stepanuk et al. 2018). In May and August 2018, additional field efforts were undertaken focusing on Cuviers beaked whales and short-finned pilot whales as part of the Atlantic Behavioral Response Study (BRS), a collaborative effort between Duke University, Southall Environmental Associates, the University of St. Andrews, and CRC. Satellite tags were deployed on both Cuviers beaked whales and short-finned pilot whales in each of the periods, prior to scheduled controlled-exposure experiments (CEEs).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2019
- Accession Number
- AD1145391
Entities
People
- Andrew J. Read
- D. B. Anderson
- Daniel L. Webster
- Heather J. Foley
- Jessica M. Aschettino
- Robin W Baird
- William R Cioffi
- Zach T. Swaim
Organizations
- Cascadia Research
- Duke University
- HDR, Inc.