The Ecology and Acoustic Behavior of Minke Whales in the Hawaiian and other Pacific Islands
Abstract
The long-term goals of this research project are to develop and use passive acoustic methods to collect data that will improve our understanding of minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in their presumed breeding habitats around the Hawaiian Islands. Ultimately, the new information and methods resulting from this project will provide a better understanding of the ecology and behavior of minke whales so that more effective management and conservation practices can be developed. The overall objectives were to use passive acoustic methods to investigate minke whales off the Hawaiian Islands area using a unique vocalization they produce called a "boing." Our goal was to collect data simultaneously from two different passive acoustic systems, a quiet research vessel towing a hydrophone array, and a U.S. Navy seafloor hydrophone array located in the study site. Another goal was to develop and use new methods to detect, localize, and monitor acoustic behaviors of vocally active, but acoustically sensitive and visually elusive minke whales. Our specific goals were to use vessel-based passive acoustic methods to collect data that would be used to estimate the density and abundance of minke whales at our study site. A second objective was to investigate minke whale acoustic behaviors including an investigation of the effects of noise from our vessel on the acoustic behavior of minke whales so that resulting biases on the line-transect surveys could be assessed. The final objective was to investigate the population structure of minke whales by comparing acoustic characteristics of boings recorded at our study area in Hawaii to other regions such as the Marianas Islands and Midway Island.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA541820
Entities
People
- Thomas F. Norris