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Temporal variation in dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) habitat use and group size off Great Abaco Island, Bahamas

Publication ,  Journal Article
Dunphy-Daly, MM; Heithaus, MR; Claridge, DE
Published in: Marine Mammal Science
January 1, 2008

Dwarf sperm whales (Kogia sima) are among the most commonly stranded yet least known pelagic cetaceans. Few studies have occurred at sea, and none have quantified temporal and spatial variation in dwarf sperm whale abundance and group size. We assessed seasonal and spatial variation in dwarf sperm whale group size and abundance off Great Abaco Island, Bahamas using surveys within a 126 km2 study area with depths between 2 and 1,600 m. After correcting for survey effort and variation in sighting efficiency among sea states, we found that dwarf sperm whale group size and habitat use varied seasonally. In summer, dwarf sperm whale groups were small (median = 2.5, range = 1-8) and were found only in the two deep habitats within the study area (slope 400-900 m, deep 900-1,600 m). In winter, group sizes increased (median = 4, range = 1-12) and sightings were almost six times higher in the slope habitat, where vertical relief is highest, than other habitats. Our results suggest that studies of pelagic cetaceans and conservation plans must explicitly account for seasonal variation in group size and habitat use. © 2007 by the Society for Marine Mammalogy.

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Published In

Marine Mammal Science

DOI

EISSN

1748-7692

ISSN

0824-0469

Publication Date

January 1, 2008

Volume

24

Issue

1

Start / End Page

171 / 182

Related Subject Headings

  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • 4102 Ecological applications
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0608 Zoology
  • 0603 Evolutionary Biology
  • 0602 Ecology
 

Citation

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Dunphy-Daly, M. M., Heithaus, M. R., & Claridge, D. E. (2008). Temporal variation in dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) habitat use and group size off Great Abaco Island, Bahamas. Marine Mammal Science, 24(1), 171–182. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2007.00183.x
Dunphy-Daly, M. M., M. R. Heithaus, and D. E. Claridge. “Temporal variation in dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) habitat use and group size off Great Abaco Island, Bahamas.” Marine Mammal Science 24, no. 1 (January 1, 2008): 171–82. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2007.00183.x.
Dunphy-Daly MM, Heithaus MR, Claridge DE. Temporal variation in dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) habitat use and group size off Great Abaco Island, Bahamas. Marine Mammal Science. 2008 Jan 1;24(1):171–82.
Dunphy-Daly, M. M., et al. “Temporal variation in dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) habitat use and group size off Great Abaco Island, Bahamas.” Marine Mammal Science, vol. 24, no. 1, Jan. 2008, pp. 171–82. Scopus, doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.2007.00183.x.
Dunphy-Daly MM, Heithaus MR, Claridge DE. Temporal variation in dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) habitat use and group size off Great Abaco Island, Bahamas. Marine Mammal Science. 2008 Jan 1;24(1):171–182.
Journal cover image

Published In

Marine Mammal Science

DOI

EISSN

1748-7692

ISSN

0824-0469

Publication Date

January 1, 2008

Volume

24

Issue

1

Start / End Page

171 / 182

Related Subject Headings

  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • 4102 Ecological applications
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0608 Zoology
  • 0603 Evolutionary Biology
  • 0602 Ecology