Density-dependent changes in the distribution of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) in the breeding ground Peninsula Valdés

SUEYRO, NICOLÁS; CRESPO, ENRIQUE A.; ARIAS M.; COSCARELLA, MARIANO A.

PeerJ

PeerJ

Año: 2018 vol. 6

2167-8359

Southern Right Whales (Eubalaena australis) population of the South-western Atlantic Ocean is recovering. In the breeding ground of Peninsula Valdés, as a consequence of the population growth, expansion to new areas by some types of groups and a change in the habitat use patterns at the coastal area were recorded. Methods. We analyzed information gathered from aerial surveys conducted along the coast of Peninsula Valdés in 15 years of effective sampling in a 19-year span. These surveys were divided into 4 periods (1999-2000; 2004-2007; 2008-2012 and 2013-2016) and estimated the density of whales in a 620 km of coast divided into segments of 5 km.Results. The density of the whales increased to near 3 whales per km2 (averaged over each period) in the high-density areas. When this mean number was reached, the significant changes in density in the adjacent areas were detected in the following period. These changes were a decrease in density in the high-density areas and an increase of density in the low-density areas.Discussion. We propose that a threshold in density elicits a response in habitat use, with the Mother-calf pairs remaining in the area, while the other groups are displaced to new areas.