Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) behaviour determines habitat use in two Australian bays
S. McCulloch A B H , J.-O. Meynecke
B C D I , T. Franklin E F , W. Franklin E F and A. L. M. Chauvenet A G
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld 4222, Australia. Email: sarah.mcculloch2@alumni.griffithuni.edu.au; a.chauvenet@griffith.edu.au
B Centre for Coastal and Marine Research, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld 4222, Australia.
C Humpbacks & High-rises Inc., Gold Coast, Qld 4222, Australia.
D Whales and Climate Research Program, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld 4222, Australia.
E The Oceania Project, PO Box 646, Byron Bay, NSW 2481, Australia. Email: trish.franklin@oceania.org.au; wally@oceania.org.au
F Marine Ecology Research Centre, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia.
G Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld 4222, Australia.
H Present address: Humpbacks & High-rises Inc., Gold Coast, Qld 4222, Australia.
I Corresponding author. Email: o.meynecke@griffith.edu.au
Marine and Freshwater Research 72(9) 1251-1267 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF21065
Submitted: 23 February 2021 Accepted: 8 March 2021 Published: 22 April 2021
Journal Compilation © CSIRO 2021 Open Access CC BY
Abstract
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) require a suite of essential habitats during their long migration. Therefore, the identification of critical habitats is important for continuation of their successful recovery. In this study we investigated the behaviours and habitat usage exhibited by humpback whales in two known aggregation sites on the east coast of Australia. Using a combined 5400 humpback whale records collected from Hervey Bay between 1999 and 2009 and from the Gold Coast Bay between 2011 and 2018, we analysed different types of behavioural categories. We found that humpback whales in Hervey Bay primarily exhibited surface travel and non-aggressive social behaviour, whereas both sites appeared to be similarly important for resting. Our results suggest that the Gold Coast Bay provides habitat for a wide range of critical humpback whale activities, in particular for resting mother–calf pairs, mature males seeking copulation and socialising immature whales. Hervey Bay had a higher number of mother–calf pair sightings, confirming the area as an important resting site. This study demonstrates that the two regions are critical habitats for humpback whales during their annual migration, but for different essential activities, and should be considered as a whale protection area.
Keywords: humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, migration, behaviour, conservation, critical habitat.
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