Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-dh8gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-18T10:12:29.288Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Occurrence of killer whales (Orcinus orca) and other cetaceans in Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea, Antarctica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Giancarlo Lauriano ,
Caterina Maria Fortuna  and
Marino Vacchi
Giancarlo Lauriano*
Affiliation:
Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via di Casalotti 300, 00166 Rome, Italy
Caterina Maria Fortuna
Affiliation:
Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via di Casalotti 300, 00166 Rome, Italy
Marino Vacchi
Affiliation:
ISPRA c/o MNA University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3-16132 Genoa, Italy
*
[email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

During January and February 2004, data on presence and distribution of killer whales (Orcinus orca) and other cetaceans were collected by helicopter surveys along the coastline of Terra Nova Bay and adjacent localities (western Ross Sea, Antarctica). A total of 37 sightings of killer whale, of both B and C types, were recorded as well as 17 sightings of Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis), nine of Balaenoptera spp., two of Arnoux’s beaked whale (Berardius arnuxii) and four of undetermined species. The type C killer whale was the most abundant, with 23 sightings, whereas we recorded type B only twice. Group size ranged between 1 and 30 animals, with an average of eight individuals. Seventeen killer whales were photo-identified and 13 resightings occurred during the study period. Killer whales showed a differential pattern in partitioning the study area. Their encounter rate was significantly higher (t-test = 2.6045, P < 0.05) in the northern area extending from Edmonson Point to the Campbell Glacier Tongue (encounter rate, ER = 0.031), compared to the southern area from Mario Zucchelli Station to the Drygalski Ice Tongue (ER = 0.003).

Keywords

Antarctic minke whaleArnoux’s beaked whaledistributionecotypeencounter rate
Type
Biological Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 23 , Issue 2 , April 2011 , pp. 139 - 143
Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ainley, D.G., Ballard, G. Dugger, K.M. 2006. Competition among penguins and cetaceans reveals trophic cascades in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Ecology, 87, 2080–2093.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ainley, D.G., Ballard, G. Olmastroni, S. 2009. An apparent decrease in the prevalence of ‘Ross Sea killer whales’ in the southern Ross Sea. International Whaling Commission, SC/61/SM26.Google Scholar
Andrews, R.D., Pitman, R.L. Ballance, L.T. 2008. Satellite tracking reveals distinct movement patterns for type B and type C killer whales in the southern Ross Sea, Antarctica. Polar Biology, 31, 1461–1468.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Arrigo, K.R. van Dijken, G.L. 2003. Phytoplankton dynamics within 37 Antarctic coastal polynya systems. Journal of Geophysical Research, 108, 10.1029/2002JC001739.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baird, R.W. Stacey, P.J. 1988. Variation in saddle patch pigmentation in populations of killer whales (Orcinus orca) from British Columbia, Alaska and Washington State. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 66, 2582–2585.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barber-Meyer, S.M., Kooyman, G.L. Ponganis, P.J. 2007. Estimating the relative abundance of emperor penguins at inaccessible colonies using satellite imagery. Polar Biology, 30, 1565–1570.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berkman, P.A. Tipton-Everett, L.R. 2001. Latitudinal Ecosystem (LAT-ECO) responses to climate across Victoria Land, Antarctica. Report of a National Science Foundation Workshop. BPRC Report No. 20. Columbus, OH: Byrd Polar Research Center, The Ohio State University, 152 pp.Google Scholar
Branch, T.A. Butterworth, D.S. 2001. Estimates of abundance south of 60°S for cetaceans species sighted frequently on the 1978/79 to 1997/98 IWC/IDCR-SOWER sightings surveys. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, 3, 251–270.Google Scholar
Buffoni, G., Cappelletti, A. Picco, P. 2002. An investigation of thermohaline circulation in Terra Nova Bay polynya. Antarctic Science, 14, 83–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cherel, Y. Kooyman, G.L. 1998. The food of emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) in the western Ross Sea (Antarctica). Marine Biology, 130, 335–344.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clarke, J.R., Manly, B., Kerry, K.R., Gardner, H., Franchi, E., Corsolini, S. Focardi, S. 1998. Sex differences in Adélie penguin foraging strategies. Polar Biology, 20, 248–258.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DeWitt, H.H. 1970. The character of the midwater fish fauna of the Ross Sea, Antarctica. In Holdgate, M.W., ed. Antarctic ecology, vol. 1. London: Academic Press, 305–314.Google Scholar
Eastman, J.T. 1985. Pleuragramma antarcticum (Pisces, Nototheniidae) as food for other fishes in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Polar Biology, 4, 155–160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ford, J.K.B., Ellis, G.M. Balcomb, K.C. 2000. Killer whales: the natural history and genealogy of Orcinus orca in British Columbia and Washington State, 2nd ed. Vancouver: University of British Colombia Press, 104 pp.Google Scholar
Granata, A., Cubeta, A., Guglielmo, L., Sidoti, O., Greco, S., Vacchi, M. La Mesa, M. 2002. Ichthyoplankton abundance and distribution in the Ross Sea during 1987–1996. Polar Biology, 25, 187–202.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kurtz, D.D. Bromwich, D.H. 1983. Satellite observed behaviour of the Terra Nova Bay polynya. Journal of Geophysical Research, 88, 9717–9722.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jehl, J.E. Jr, Evans, W.E., Awbrey, F.T. Dreischman, W. 1980. Distribution and geographic variation in killer whale (Orcinus orca) populations of the Antarctica and adjacent waters. Antarctic Journal of the United States, 15(5), 161–163.Google Scholar
La Mesa, M., Eastman, J.T. Vacchi, M. 2004. The role of notothenioid fish in the food web of the Ross Sea shelf waters: a review. Polar Biology, 27, 321–338.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lauriano, G., Fortuna, C.M. Vacchi, M. 2007a. Observation of killer whale (Orcinus orca) possibly eating penguins in Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica. Antarctic Science, 19, 95–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lauriano, G., Vacchi, M., Ainley, D. Ballard, G. 2007b. Observations of top predators foraging on fish in the pack ice of the southern Ross Sea. Antarctic Science, 19, 439–440.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lillie, D.G. 1915. Cetacea. British Antarctic (‘Terra Nova’) Expedition, 1910. Natural History Report, Zoology, 1, 85–124.Google Scholar
Martin, S., Drucker, R.S. Kwok, R. 2007. The areas and ice production of the western and central Ross Sea polynyas, 1992–2002, and their relation to the B-15 and C-19 iceberg events of 2000 and 2002. Journal of Marine Systems, 68, 201–214.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pitman, R.L. Durban, J.W. 2010. Killer whale predation on penguins in Antarctica. Polar Biology, 10.1007/s00300-010-0853-5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pitman, R.L. Ensor, P. 2003. Three forms of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in Antarctic waters. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, 5, 1–9.Google Scholar
Rice, D.W. 1998. Marine mammals of the world: systematics and distribution. Lawrence, KA: Society of Marine Mammalogy, 231 pp.Google Scholar
Saino, N. Guglielmo, L. 1999. ROSSMIZE Expedition: distribution and biomass of birds and mammals in the western Ross Sea. In Faranda, F., Guglielmo, L. & Ianora, A., eds. Ross Sea ecology. Milan: Springer, 469–478.Google Scholar
Smith, W.O. Jr, Ainley, D.G. Cattaneo-Vietti, R. 2007. Trophic interactions within the Ross Sea continental shelf ecosystem. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, B362, 95–111.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomas, J.A., Leatherwood, S., Evans, W.E., Jehl, J.R. Jr Awbrey, F.T. 1981. Ross Sea killer whale distribution, behaviour, colour patterns, and vocalizations. Antarctic Journal of the United States, 16(1), 157–158.Google Scholar
Vacchi, M., La Mesa, M., Dalù, M. Macdonald, J. 2004. Early life stages in the life cycle of Antarctic silverfish, Pleuragramma antarcticum in Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea. Antarctic Science, 16, 299–305.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Woert, M.L. 1999. Wintertime dynamics of the Terra Nova Bay polynya. Journal of Geophysical Research, 104, 7753–7769.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Visser, I.N. Mäkeläinen, P. 2000. Variation in eye-patch shape of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in New Zealand waters. Marine Mammal Science, 16, 459–469.CrossRefGoogle Scholar