Cetacean strandings in South Australia (1881–2008)
Tomoyo Segawa A B C and Catherine Kemper A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
B School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: Tomoyo.Segawa@samuseum.sa.gov.au
Australian Mammalogy 37(1) 51-66 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM14029
Submitted: 20 February 2014 Accepted: 9 January 2015 Published: 27 February 2015
Abstract
Long-term monitoring of cetacean strandings is essential for good management. This study updates previous summaries for South Australia by adding up to 20 years of comprehensive data, including results of necropsy examinations. A total of 1078 records were examined. Thirty-one species were recorded: 9 (7% of records) mysticetes, 22 (88%) odontocetes and the rest (5%) unidentified. The number of species new to South Australia did not reach an asymptote, with potential for at least five additional species. Small cetaceans were more frequently recorded after 1990, possibly due to increased reporting effort. Stranding records increased markedly after 1970. Records for all species occurred year-round. Beaked whales stranded primarily during January–April, baleen whales during July–January and common dolphins during February–May. Geographic hotspots were identified and related to upwelling and reporting effort. A necropsy program since 1990 resulted in 315 of 856 records being assigned to a circumstance of death, with anthropogenic circumstances accounting for 42% of these. Known Entanglement (21%, 66 of 315) and Probable Entanglement (12%, 37 of 315) were the most recorded anthropogenic circumstances of death. Future research correlating strandings with oceanographic/climatic conditions may help to explain the documented patterns but first the effects of reporting effort need to be accounted for.
Additional keywords: geographic trends, mortality, temporal trends.
References
Atlas of Living Australia (2014). ‘Atlas of Living Australia.’ Available at: http://www.ala.org.au/ [accessed 8 September 2014].Australian Marine Mammal Centre (2014). ‘National Marine Mammal Data Portal.’ Available at: https://data.marinemammals.gov.au/ [accessed 8 September 2014].
Bannister, J. L., Kemper, C. M., and Warneke, R. M. (1996). ‘The Action Plan for Australian Cetaceans.’ (Australian Nature Conservation Agency: Canberra.)
Brabyn, M. W., and McLean, I. G. (1992). Oceanography and coastal topography of herd-stranding sites for whales in New Zealand. Journal of Mammalogy 73, 469–476.
| Oceanography and coastal topography of herd-stranding sites for whales in New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chatto, R., and Warneke, R. M. (2000). Records of cetacean strandings in Northern Territory of Australia. The Beagle: Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 16, 163–175.
Colegrove, K. M., Greig, D. J., and Gulland, M. D. (2005). Causes of live strandings of northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) and Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) along the central California coast, 1992–2001. Aquatic Mammals 31, 1–10.
| Causes of live strandings of northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) and Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) along the central California coast, 1992–2001.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Commonwealth of Australia (2006). A guide to the integrated marine and coastal regionalisation of Australia. Version 4.0. Department of Environment and Heritage, Canberra.
Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (2014). ‘Marine wildlife strandings annual reports.’ Available at: http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/caring-for-wildlife/strandnet-reports.html [accessed 8 September 2014].
Dimmlich, W. F., Breed, W. G., Geddes, M., and Ward, T. M. (2004). Relative importance of gulf and shelf waters for spawning and recruitment of Australian anchovy, Engraulis australis, in South Australia. Fisheries Oceanography 13, 310–323.
| Relative importance of gulf and shelf waters for spawning and recruitment of Australian anchovy, Engraulis australis, in South Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Edyvane, K. S. (1999). Conservation of Marine Biodiversity in South Australia – Part 2 – Identification of areas of high conservation value in South Australia. South Australian Research and Development Institute Report 39, Adelaide.
Evans, K., Thresher, R., Warneke, R. M., Bradshaw, C. J. A., Pook, M, Thiele, D., and Hindell, M. A. (2005). Periodic variability in cetacean strandings: links to large-scale climate events. Biology Letters 1, 147–150.
| Periodic variability in cetacean strandings: links to large-scale climate events.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD28jhtVKisw%3D%3D&md5=bdd44aeb3391e2e01f38c6397f439adaCAS | 17148151PubMed |
Evans, W. E. (1994). Common Dolphin, White-bellied Porpoise – Delphinus delphis Linnaeus, 1758. In ‘Handbook of Marine Mammals, Volume 5: The First Book of Dolphins’. (Eds S. H. Ridgeway and R. Harrison.) pp. 225–241. (Academic Press: London.)
Geijer, C. K. A., and Read, A. J. (2013). Mitigation of marine mammal bycatch in U.S. fisheries since 1994. Biological Conservation 159, 54–60.
| Mitigation of marine mammal bycatch in U.S. fisheries since 1994.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Geoscience Australia (2010). ‘Coastline Lengths.’ Available at: http://www.ga.gov.au/education/geoscience–basics/dimensions/coastline–lengths.html [accessed 13 January 2013].
Geraci, J. R., and Lounsbury, V. J. (2005). ‘Marine Mammals Ashore: A Field Guide for Strandings.’ 2nd edn. (National Aquarium in Baltimore, Inc.: Baltimore, MD.)
Gibbs, S. E., and Kemper, C. M. (2014). Whales and dolphins in Spencer Gulf. In ‘Natural History of Spencer Gulf’. (Eds S. A. Shepherd, S. Madigan, B. M. Gillanders, S. Murray-Jones, and D. Wiltshire.) pp. 242–253. (Royal Society of South Australia: Adelaide.)
Goold, J. C., Whitehead, H., and Reid, R. J. (2002). North Atlantic sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, stranding on the coastline of the British Isles and eastern Canada. Canadian Field Naturalist 116, 371–388.
Groom, C. J., and Coughran, D. K. (2012). Three decades of cetacean strandings in Western Australian: 1981 to 2010. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 95, 63–76.
Hamer, D. J., Ward, T. M., and McGarvey, R. (2008). Measurement, management and mitigation of operational interactions between the South Australian Sardine Fishery and short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis). Biological Conservation 141, 2865–2878.
| Measurement, management and mitigation of operational interactions between the South Australian Sardine Fishery and short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kailola, P. J., Williams, M. J., Stewart, P. C., Reichelt, R. E., McNee, A., and Grieve, C. (1993). ‘Australian Fisheries Resources.’ (Bureau of Resource Sciences and Fisheries Research Development Corporation: Canberra.)
Kämpf, J. (2006). Transient wind-driven upwelling in a submarine canyon: a process oriented modelling study. Journal of Geophysical Research 111, C11011.
| Transient wind-driven upwelling in a submarine canyon: a process oriented modelling study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kämpf, J., Doubell, M., Griffin, D., Matthews, R. L., and Ward, T. M. (2004). Evidence of a large coastal upwelling system along the southern shelf of Australia. Geographical Research Letters 31, L09310.
Kemper, C. M., and Gibbs, S. E. (2001). Dolphin interactions with tuna feedlots at Port Lincoln, South Australia and recommendations for minimizing entanglements. The Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 3, 283–292.
Kemper, C. M., and Ling, J. K. (1991). Whale strandings in South Australia (1881–1989). Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 115, 37–52.
Kemper, C. M., Flaherty, A., Gibbs, S. E., Hill, M., Long, M., and Byard, R. W. (2005). Cetacean captures, strandings and mortalities in South Australia 1881–2000, with special reference to human interactions. Australian Mammalogy 27, 37–47.
Kemper, C., Bossley, M., and Shaughnessy, P. (2008a). Marine mammals of Gulf St Vincent, Investigator Strait and Backstairs Passage. In ‘Natural History of Gulf St Vincent and Investigator Strait’. (Eds S. A. Shepherd, S. Bryars, I. Kirkegaard, P. Harbison, and J. T. Jennings.) pp. 339–352. (Royal Society of South Australia: Adelaide.)
Kemper, C., Coughran, D., Warneke, R., Pirzl, R., Watson, M., Gales, R., and Gibbs, S. (2008b). Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) mortalities and human interactions in Australia, 1950–2006. The Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 10, 1–8.
Kemper, C. M., Middleton, J. F., and van Ruth, P. D. (2013). Association between Caperea marginata and areas of high marine productivity off Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 40, 102–128.
| Association between Caperea marginata and areas of high marine productivity off Australia and New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kemper, C., Stemmer, D., Reardon, T., Medlin, G., Shaughnessy, P., and Owens, H. (2014). Section 2 – Mammals. In ‘Census of South Australian Vertebrates’. 4th edn. (Ed. H. Owens.) pp. 1–46. (Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources: Adelaide.)
Klinowska, M. (1985a). Cetacean live stranding sites relate to geomagnetic topography. Aquatic Mammals 1, 27–32.
Klinowska, M. (1985b). Interpretation of the UK cetacean strandings records. Report of the International Whaling Commission 35, 459–467.
Leeney, R. H., Amies, R., Broderick, A. C., Witt, M. J., Loveridge, J., Doyle, J., and Godley, B. J. (2008). Spatio-temporal analysis of cetacean strandings and bycatch in a UK fisheries hotspot. Biodiversity and Conservation 17, 2323–2338.
| Spatio-temporal analysis of cetacean strandings and bycatch in a UK fisheries hotspot.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Llewellyn, L., Ellis, M., Martin, J., and Ferguson, A. (1994). ‘Atlas of New South Wales Wildlife: Marine Mammals and Reptiles.’ (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service: Hurstville.)
MacLeod, C. D., Bannon, S. M., Pierce, G. J., Schweder, C., Learmonth, J. A., Herman, J. S., and Reid, R. J. (2005). Climate change and the cetacean community of north-west Scotland. Biological Conservation 124, 477–483.
| Climate change and the cetacean community of north-west Scotland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Maldini, D., Mazzuca, L., and Atkinson, S. (2005). Odontocete stranding patterns in the main Hawaiian Islands (1937–2002): how do they compare with live animal surveys? Pacific Science 59, 55–67.
| Odontocete stranding patterns in the main Hawaiian Islands (1937–2002): how do they compare with live animal surveys?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McClatchie, S., Middleton, J. F., and Ward, T. M. (2006). Water mass analysis and alongshore variation in upwelling intensity in the eastern Great Australian Bight. Journal of Geophysical Research 111, C08007.
McManus, T. J., Wapstra, J. E., Guiler, E. R., Munday, B. L., and Obendorf, D. L. (1984). Cetacean strandings in Tasmania from February 1978 to May 1983. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 118, 117–134.
Middleton, J. F., and Bye, J. A. T. (2007). A review of the shelf-slope circulation along Australia’s southern shelves: Cape Leeuwin to Portland. Progress in Oceanography 75, 1–41.
| A review of the shelf-slope circulation along Australia’s southern shelves: Cape Leeuwin to Portland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nicol, D. J. (1985). Oceanographic features that may influence cetacean strandings around Tasmania. Centre for Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart.
Nicol, D. J. (1986). Cetacean strandings around Tasmania and some theories. Centre for Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart.
Nicol, D. J., and Croome, R. L. (1988). Trends in the Tasmanian cetacean stranding record. In ‘Marine Mammals of Australia’. (Ed. M. L. Augee.) pp. 59–70. (Royal Zoological Society: Sydney.)
Norman, S. A., Bowlby, G. E., Brancato, M. S., Calambokidis, J., Duffield, D., Gearin, P. J., Gornall, T. A., Gosho, M. E., Hanson, B., Hodder, J., Jeffries, S. J., Lagerquist, B., Lambourn, D. M., Mate, B., Norberg, B., Osborne, R. W., Rash, J. A., Riemer, R., and Scordino, J. (2004). Cetacean strandings in Oregon and Washington between 1930 and 2002. The Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 6, 87–99.
Peltier, H., Dabin, W., Daniel, P., Van Canneyt, O., Doremus, G., Huon, M., and Ridoux, V. (2012). The significance of stranding data as indicators of cetacean populations at sea: modelling the drift of cetacean carcasses. Ecological Indicators 18, 278–290.
| The significance of stranding data as indicators of cetacean populations at sea: modelling the drift of cetacean carcasses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pyenson, N. D. (2010). Carcasses on the coastline: measuring the ecological fidelity of the cetacean stranding record. Paleobiology 36, 453–480.
| Carcasses on the coastline: measuring the ecological fidelity of the cetacean stranding record.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Read, A. J., Drinker, P., and Northbridge, S. (2006). Bycatch of marine mammals in U.S. and global fisheries. Conservation Biology 20, 163–169.
| Bycatch of marine mammals in U.S. and global fisheries.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16909669PubMed |
Sergeant, D. E. (1979). Ecological aspects of cetacean strandings. In ‘Biology of Marine Mammals: Insights through Strandings’. (Eds J. R. Geraci and D. J. St Aubin.) pp. 94–113. (Marine Mammal Commission: Washington.)
Stockin, K. A., Pierce, G. J., Binedell, V., Wiseman, N., and Orams, M. B. (2008). Factors affecting the occurrence and demographics of common dolphins (Delphinus sp.) in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. Aquatic Mammals 34, 200–211.
| Factors affecting the occurrence and demographics of common dolphins (Delphinus sp.) in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tomo, I., Kemper, C. M., and Lavery, T. J. (2010). Eighteen-year study of South Australian dolphins shows variation in lung nematodes by season, year, age class, and location. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 46, 488–498.
| Eighteen-year study of South Australian dolphins shows variation in lung nematodes by season, year, age class, and location.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20688641PubMed |
Van Waerebeek, K., Baker, A. N., Félix, F., Gedamke, J., Iñiguez, M., Sanino, G. P., Secchi, E., Sutaria, D., van Helden, A., and Wang, Y. (2007). Vessel collisions with small cetaceans worldwide and with large whales in the Southern Hemisphere, an initial assessment. The Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals; (LAJAM) 6, 43–69.
| Vessel collisions with small cetaceans worldwide and with large whales in the Southern Hemisphere, an initial assessment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Walker, R. J., Keith, E. O., and Yankovsky, A. E. (2005). Environmental correlates of cetacean mass stranding sites in Florida. Marine Mammal Science 21, 327–335.
| Environmental correlates of cetacean mass stranding sites in Florida.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ward, T. M., McLeay, L. J., Dimmlich, W. F., Rogers, P. J., McClatchie, S., Matthews, R., Kämpf, J., and van Ruth, P. D. (2006). Pelagic ecology of a northern boundary current system: effects of upwelling on the production and distribution of sardine (Sardinops sagax), anchovy (Engraulis australis) and southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) in the Great Australian Bight. Fisheries Oceanography 15, 191–207.
| Pelagic ecology of a northern boundary current system: effects of upwelling on the production and distribution of sardine (Sardinops sagax), anchovy (Engraulis australis) and southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) in the Great Australian Bight.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Warneke, R. (1983). Whale strandings – accident or design? Australian Natural History 24, 43–47.
Weilgart, L. S. (2007). The impacts of anthropogenic ocean noise on cetaceans and implications for management. Canadian Journal of Zoology 85, 1091–1116.
| The impacts of anthropogenic ocean noise on cetaceans and implications for management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
