Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Marine and Freshwater Research Marine and Freshwater Research Society
Advances in the aquatic sciences
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > MF > MF24116
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)
Contents Vol 75(18)

Assessment of humpback whale swimming speeds in two eastern Australian bays

H. Kela https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2585-665X A B C , J. de Bie https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8371-4089 A B , K. H. W. Paas https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0524-2039 D , S. Stack E F , W. Franklin G H I , T. Franklin G H I and J.-O. Meynecke https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4639-4055 A B C *
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Whales and Climate Research Program, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld 4222, Australia.

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 Climate Action Beacon, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld 4222, Australia.

E Pacific Whale Foundation Australia, Hervey Bay, Qld 4655, Australia.

F Southern Ocean Persistent Organic Pollutants Program, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, Qld 4111, Australia.

G The Oceania Project, Hervey Bay, Qld 4655, Australia.

H Marine Ecology Research Centre, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia.

I School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay, Qld 4655, Australia.

* Correspondence to: o.meynecke@griffith.edu.au

Handling Editor: Bradley Wetherbee

Marine and Freshwater Research 75, MF24116 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF24116
Submitted: 14 May 2024  Accepted: 6 November 2024  Published: 29 November 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Context

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are capital breeders, travelling several thousand kilometres between their breeding and feeding sites annually. Along the migration route, humpback whales utilise locations such as Hervey Bay and the Gold Coast bay for resting.

Methods

Here we used sightings data from 2066 boat-based surveys spanning 11 years.

Aims

To compare and analyse the sighting data and evaluate the swimming speed in Hervey Bay and the Gold Coast bay.

Key results

During southward migration, swimming speeds observed in Hervey Bay and the Gold Coast bay for both pods with and without calves were slower than are migration speeds reported in literature for each pod type. Whales swam faster in the Gold Coast bay (mean = 4.14 km h−1) than Hervey Bay (mean = 3.32 km h−1); however, the effect of location on swimming speed was small. In Hervey Bay, swimming speeds of pods without calves were faster (mean = 3.48 km h−1) than swimming speeds of pods with calves (mean = 3.15 km h−1).

Conclusions

Our findings contribute to the understanding of swimming speeds in different humpback whale cohorts and their movements in nearshore environments.

Implications

Understanding the importance of the role of humpback whale swimming speed in nearshore environments for assessment of habitat use can help management of such areas for effective protection of humpback whales.

Keywords: Australia, cetaceans, citizen science, conservation, humpback whale, migration, resting area, swimming speed.

References

Andrews-Goff V, Bestley S, Gales NJ, Laverick SM, Paton D, Polanowski AM, Schmitt NT, Double MC (2018) Humpback whale migrations to Antarctic summer foraging grounds through the southwest Pacific Ocean. Scientific Reports 8(1), 12333.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Andrews-Goff V, Gales N, Childerhouse SJ, Laverick SM, Polanowski AM, Double MC (2023) Australia’s east coast humpback whales: Satellite tag-derived movements on breeding grounds, feeding grounds and along the northern and southern migration. Biodiversity Data Journal 11, e114729.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Bejder L, Videsen S, Hermannsen L, Simon M, Hanf D, Madsen PT (2019) Low energy expenditure and resting behaviour of humpback whale mother–calf pairs highlights conservation importance of sheltered breeding areas. Scientific Reports 9(1), 771.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Bird ECF (2008) ‘Coastal geomorphology: an introduction.’ (Wiley)

Braithwaite JE, Meeuwig JJ, Hipsey MR (2015) Optimal migration energetics of humpback whales and the implications of disturbance. Conservation Physiology 3(1), cov001.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Bruce E, Albright L, Sheehan S, Blewitt M (2014) Distribution patterns of migrating humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Jervis Bay, Australia: a spatial analysis using geographical citizen science data. Applied Geography 54, 83-95.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Burns D, Brooks L, Harrison P, Franklin T, Franklin W, Paton D, Clapham P (2014) Migratory movements of individual humpback whales photographed off the eastern coast of Australia. Marine Mammal Science 30(2), 562-578.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Burrows JA, Johnston DW, Straley JM, Chenoweth EM, Ware C, Curtice C, DeRuiter SL, Friedlaender AS (2016) Prey density and depth affect the fine-scale foraging behavior of humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae in Sitka Sound, Alaska, USA. Marine Ecology Progress Series 561, 245-260.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Chittleborough RG (1953) Aerial observations on the humpback whale, Megaptera nodosa (Bonnaterre), with notes on other species. Marine Freshwater Research 4, 219-226.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Clapham PJ, Mead JG (1999) Megaptera novaeangliae. Mammalian Species 604, 1-9.
| Google Scholar |

Commonwealth Regulations (2019) Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 2019. Office of Parliamentary Counsel, Canberra, ACT, Australia.

Conrad CC, Hilchey KG (2011) A review of citizen science and community-based environmental monitoring: issues and opportunities. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 176, 273-291.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Corkeron PJ, Brown M, Slade RW, Bryden MM (1994) Humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae (Cetaceaa : Balaenopteridae), in Hervey Bay, Queensland. Wildlife Research 21(3), 293.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Craig AS, Herman LM, Pack AA, Waterman James O (2014) Habitat segregation by female humpback whales in Hawaiian waters: avoidance of males? Behaviour 151(5), 613-631.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Currie JJ, McCordic JA, Olson GL, Machernis AF, Stack SH (2021) The impact of vessels on humpback whale behavior: the benefit of added whale watching guidelines. Frontiers in Marine Science 8, 601433.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Dawbin WH (1966) The seasonal migratory cycle of humpback whales. In ‘Whales, dolphins and porpoises’. pp. 145–169. (University of California Press: Berkeley, CA, USA)

Ejrnæs DD, Sprogis KR (2021) Ontogenetic changes in energy expenditure and resting behaviour of humpback whale mother–calf pairs examined using unmanned aerial vehicles. Wildlife Research 49(1), 34-45.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Ersts PJ, Rosenbaum HC (2003) Habitat preference reflects social organization of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) on a wintering ground. Journal of Zoology 260(4), 337-345.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Findlay KP, Best PB, Meÿer MA (2011) Migrations of humpback whales past Cape Vidal, South Africa, and an estimate of the population increase rate (1988–2002). African Journal of Marine Science 33(3), 375-392.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Frankel AS, Clark CW, Herman LM, Gabriele CM (1995) Spatial distribution, habitat utilization, and social interactions of humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, off Hawai’i, determined using acoustic and visual techniques. Canadian Journal of Zoology 73(6), 1134-1146.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Franklin T (2012) The social and ecological significance of Hervey Bay Queensland for eastern Australian humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). PhD thesis, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia.

Franklin W (2014) Abundance, population dynamics, reproduction, rates of population increase and migration linkages of eastern Australian humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) utilising Hervey Bay, Queensland. PhD thesis, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia.

Franklin T, Franklin W, Brooks L, Harrison P (2018) Site-specific female-biased sex ratio of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) during a stopover early in the southern migration. Canadian Journal of Zoology 96(6), 533-544.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Franklin T, Franklin W, Brooks L, Harrison P, Burns D, Holmberg J, Calambokidis J (2020) Photo-identification of individual Southern Hemisphere humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) using all available natural marks: managing the potential for misidentification. Journal Cetacean Research and Management 21(1), 71-83.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Franklin T, Franklin W, Brooks L, Harrison P, Pack AA, Clapham PJ (2021) Social behaviour of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Hervey Bay, Eastern Australia, a preferential female stopover during the Southern Migration. Frontiers in Marine Science 8, 652147.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Friedlaender AS, Hazen EL, Nowacek DP, Halpin PN, Ware C, Weinrich MT, Hurst T, Wiley D (2009) Diel changes in humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae feeding behavior in response to sand lance Ammodytes spp. behavior and distribution. Marine Ecology Progress Series 395, 91-100.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Garrigue C, Clapham PJ, Geyer Y, Kennedy AS, Zerbini AN (2015) Satellite tracking reveals novel migratory patterns and the importance of seamounts for endangered South Pacific humpback whales. Royal Society Open Science 2(11), 150489.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Garrigue C, Franklin T, Constantine R, Russell K, Burns D, Poole M, Paton D, Hauser N, Oremus M, Childerhouse S, Mattila D, Gibbs N, Franklin W, Robbins J, Clapham P, Baker CS (2020) First assessment of interchange of humpback whales between Oceania and the east coast of Australia. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 3, 269-274.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Hamilton S, Baker GB (2019) Technical mitigation to reduce marine mammal bycatch and entanglement in commercial fishing gear: lessons learnt and future directions. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 29, 223-247.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Henderson E, Helble TA, Ierley G, Martin S (2018) Identifying behavioral states and habitat use of acoustically tracked humpback whales in Hawaii. Marine Mammal Science 34(3), 701-717.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Johnson A, Salvador G, Kenney J, Robbins J, Kraus S, Landry S, Clapham P (2005) Fishing gear involved in entanglements of right and humpback whales. Marine Mammal Science 21(4), 635-645.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Kavanagh AS, Noad MJ, Blomberg SP, Goldizen AW, Kniest E, Cato DH, Dunlop RA (2017) Factors driving the variability in diving and movement behavior of migrating humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae): implications for anthropogenic disturbance studies. Marine Mammal Science 33(2), 413-439.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

McCulloch S, Meynecke J-O, Franklin T, Franklin W, Chauvenet ALM (2021) Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) behaviour determines habitat use in two Australian bays. Marine and Freshwater Research 72(9), 1251-1267.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Mayaud R, Castrillon J, Wilson C, Peel D, Smith JN, Luche GD, Allen J, Nash SB (2022) Traffic in a nursery: ship strike risk from commercial vessels to migrating humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in a rapidly developing Australian urban embayment. Marine Policy 146, 105332.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Noad MJ, Cato DH (2007) Swimming speeds of singing and non-singing humpback whales during migration. Marine Mammal Science 23(3), 481-495.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Paterson RA (1991) The migration of humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae in east Australian waters. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 30, 333-341.
| Google Scholar |

Pirotta V, Slip D, Jonsen ID, Peddemors VM, Cato DH, Ross G, Harcourt R (2016) Migrating humpback whales show no detectable response to whale alarms off Sydney, Australia. Endangered Species Research 29(3), 201-209.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Pirotta V, Reynolds W, Ross G, Jonsen I, Grech A, Slip D, Harcourt R (2020) A citizen science approach to long-term monitoring of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) off Sydney, Australia. Marine Mammal Science 36(2), 472-485.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Rasmussen K, Palacios DM, Calambokidis J, Saborio MT, Dalla Rosa L, Secchi ER, Steiger GH, Allen JM, Stone GS (2007) Southern Hemisphere humpback whales wintering off Central America: insights from water temperature into the longest mammalian migration. Biology Letters 3(3), 302-305.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Ribbe J (2014) Hervey Bay and Its Estuaries. In ‘Estuaries of Australia in 2050 and beyond’. (Ed. E Wolanski) pp. 185–201. (Springer: Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Salgado Kent C, Jenner K, Jenner M, Bouchet P, Rexstad E (2012) Southern hemisphere breeding stock D humpback whale population estimates from North West Cape, Western Australia. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 12, 29-38.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Schoeman RP, Patterson-Abrolat C, Plön S (2020) A global review of vessel collisions with marine animals. Frontiers in Marine Science 7, 292.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Senigaglia V, Christiansen F, Bejder L, Gendron D, Lundquist D, Noren DP, Schaffar A, Smith JC, Williams R, Martinez E, Stockin K, Lusseau D (2016) Meta-analyses of whale-watching impact studies: comparisons of cetacean responses to disturbance. Marine Ecology Progress Series 542, 251-263.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Sprogis KR, Videsen S, Madsen PT (2020a) Vessel noise levels drive behavioural responses of humpback whales with implications for whale-watching. Elife 9, e56760.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Sprogis KR, Bejder L, Hanf D, Christiansen F (2020b) Behavioural responses of migrating humpback whales to swim-with-whale activities in the Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 522, 151254.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Stack SH, Currie JJ, McCordic JA, Machernis AF, Olson GL (2020) Distribution patterns of east Australian humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Hervey Bay, Queensland: a historical perspective. Australian Mammalogy 42(1), 16-27.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Tonachella N, Nastasi A, Kaufman G, Maldini D, Rankin RW (2012) Predicting trends in humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) abundance using citizen science. Pacific Conservation Biology 18(4), 297-309.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Tyack P (1983) Differential response of humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, to playback of song or social sounds. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 13(1), 49-55.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Valani R, Meynecke J-O, Olsen MT (2020) Presence and movement of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) mother–calf pairs in the Gold Coast, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology 53, 251-263.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Villagra D, García-Cegarra A, Gallardo DI, Pacheco AS (2021) Energetic effects of whale-watching boats on humpback whales on a breeding ground. Frontiers in Marine Science 7, 600508.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |