Annual phenology and migration routes to breeding grounds in western-central North Pacific sei whales.

ABSTRACT: The sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) is an important species among baleen whales in the North Pacific and plays a significant role in the ecosystem. Despite the importance of this species, information regarding its migration patterns and breeding locations remains limited. To enhance the understanding of the phenology of North Pacific sei whales, we deployed satellite-monitored tags on these whales in the western and central North Pacific from 2017 to 2023. We fitted 55 sei whale tracks to a state-space model to describe the whales' seasonal movements at feeding grounds and their migratory behavior. The whales typically leave their feeding grounds between November and December, with migration pathways extending from off Japan to the west of the Hawaiian Islands. These southward transits c

SUBMITTER: Konishi K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11098811 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature