Radio tracking of finback (Balaenoptera physalus) and humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) whales in Prince William Sound, Alaska Article

Watkins, WA, Moore, KE, Wartzok, D et al. (1981). Radio tracking of finback (Balaenoptera physalus) and humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) whales in Prince William Sound, Alaska . DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART A-OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS, 28(6), 577-588. 10.1016/0198-0149(81)90118-7

cited authors

  • Watkins, WA; Moore, KE; Wartzok, D; Johnson, JH

authors

abstract

  • Finback whales (Balaenoptera physalus) and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) were tracked by radio tags in Prince William Sound, Alaska during June, 1978. Tracks of the whales show details of their movements. The tag remained implanted for over 16 days in humpbacks and for over 17 days in a finback (24 days tracking of one whale, visually and by radio). The whales appeared to be undisturbed by the tags. During the tracking, both species had distinct shifts in behavior, their activities were often in unison with conspecific companions, and they had shorter dive times during the dark. The finbacks returned periodically to the same area and the humpbacks roamed for as much as 100 km in a day. The radio tags provided positive individual identification needed for continous tracking and for detailed behavioral observation. © 1981.

publication date

  • January 1, 1981

published in

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 577

end page

  • 588

volume

  • 28

issue

  • 6