St Andrews Research Repository

St Andrews University Home
View Item 
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • Biology (School of)
  • Biology
  • Biology Theses
  • View Item
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • Biology (School of)
  • Biology
  • Biology Theses
  • View Item
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • Biology (School of)
  • Biology
  • Biology Theses
  • View Item
  • Login
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Population ecology of Blainville's beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris)

Thumbnail
View/Open
DianeEClaridgePhDThesis.pdf (17.17Mb)
Date
2013
Author
Claridge, Diane E.
Supervisor
Hammond, Philip S.
Durban, John W.
Funder
Earthwatch Institute
US Office of Naval Research
Metadata
Show full item record
Altmetrics Handle Statistics
Abstract
Quantifying population demographics is necessary to analyse the status of wildlife populations and to support effective conservation and management. Such a need exists for beaked whales which are vulnerable to anthropogenic noise, including navy sonar. Here, population demographics were estimated for Blainville’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) in The Bahamas and the potential population-level effects of sonar investigated. Mark-recapture models were fitted to photo-identification data collected at the US Navy’s Atlantic Test and Evaluation Centre (AUTEC) where sonars were used regularly and 170 km away at Abaco where sonar use was limited, with the exception of a navy exercise correlated with a stranding of beaked whales in 2000. Life history data collected from 1997-2011 revealed that onset of sexual maturity occurred at age nine for both males and females and minimum longevities were 23 years. The annual turnover of individuals at Abaco was supported by the estimation of a larger parent population. However, adult females showed high site fidelity and survival, while adult males’ occupancy patterns were different, making survival of males difficult to separate from permanent emigration. Average annual abundance was lower at AUTEC when compared to a same-sized area at Abaco. Despite a similar number of adult females at both sites, a higher female:calf ratio was found at AUTEC, suggesting lower recruitment through births may have contributed to lower abundance. Population demographics in Abaco changed after the 2000 stranding; abundance and temporary emigration increased then returned to pre-2000 levels remaining stable thereafter. Two stranded whales re-floated in 2000 were later re-sighted having survived exposure to sonar and the physiological stresses related to stranding. This work provides evidence of a possible population-level effect of sonar use at a navy range and during a multi-ship exercise, emphasising the valuable role that longitudinal studies play in monitoring impacts of anthropogenic activities.
Type
Thesis, PhD Doctor of Philosophy
Collections
  • Biology Theses
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10023/3741

Items in the St Andrews Research Repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

Advanced Search

Browse

All of RepositoryCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateNamesTitlesSubjectsClassificationTypeFunderThis CollectionBy Issue DateNamesTitlesSubjectsClassificationTypeFunder

My Account

Login

Open Access

To find out how you can benefit from open access to research, see our library web pages and Open Access blog. For open access help contact: openaccess@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Accessibility

Read our Accessibility statement.

How to submit research papers

The full text of research papers can be submitted to the repository via Pure, the University's research information system. For help see our guide: How to deposit in Pure.

Electronic thesis deposit

Help with deposit.

Repository help

For repository help contact: Digital-Repository@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Give Feedback

Cookie policy

This site may use cookies. Please see Terms and Conditions.

Usage statistics

COUNTER-compliant statistics on downloads from the repository are available from the IRUS-UK Service. Contact us for information.

© University of St Andrews Library

University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013532.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter