First evidence for fin whale migration into the Pacific from Antarctic feeding grounds at Elephant Island.

ABSTRACT: This study presents the first long-distance tracks of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) equipped with satellite transmitters off the Antarctic Peninsula. Southern Hemisphere fin whales were severely depleted by twentieth century industrial whaling, yet recently, they have returned to historical feeding grounds off the northern Antarctic Peninsula, forming large aggregations in austral summers. To date, our knowledge only extended to summer behaviour, while information regarding migration routes and the location of breeding and wintering grounds are lacking. During the austral autumn of 2021, we deployed nsatellite transmitters on four fin whales at Elephant Island. Two transmitters stopped working while the animals were still at the feeding grounds, while two continued to transmit

SUBMITTER: Herr H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9490345 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature