Characterizing site fidelity and habitat use of the eastern north Pacific gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) in Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia

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dc.contributor.authorClare, Jacqueline Ann
dc.contributor.supervisorDuffus, David Allan
dc.date.accessioned2015-08-26T18:09:17Z
dc.date.available2015-08-26T18:09:17Z
dc.date.copyright2015en_US
dc.date.issued2015-08-26
dc.degree.departmentDepartment of Geography
dc.degree.levelMaster of Science M.Sc.en_US
dc.description.abstractA small number of eastern north Pacific gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus), known as the Pacific Coastal Feeding Group (PCFG) forage during the summer months in the coastal waters between California and Alaska. Although several studies have analyzed the population structure of the PCFG, maternal learning and predator/prey dynamics have not been studied in detail. In this study I characterize fine scale habitat use and site fidelity of eastern north Pacific gray whales in one foraging site within the PCFG’s foraging range. I approach this study by examining site fidelity to Clayoquot Sound in increasing detail at different time scales. Using the variability recorded in 17 field seasons of whale census surveys (1997-2013) as a proxy for fluctuations in prey, I suggest that the combination of physical properties of the study area and the life history characteristics of the primary prey species type enable Clayoquot Sound to persist as a foraging site through time. The analysis of photographic identification data collected between 1998-2013 indicates that Clayoquot Sound is one site within a larger foraging range, and that annual fluctuations in prey density are related to site fidelity and residency time. By identifying cow/calf pairs using photographic identification data collected between 1998-2013 I characterize internal recruitment via maternal learning within Clayoquot Sound. A calf’s site fidelity is related to its mother’s site fidelity, but its residency time is related to annual fluctuations in prey density. In contrast, a cow’s residency time is not related to changes in prey, but increases in duration when accompanied by a calf. The interplay between fluctuations in prey productivity, and the age and gender of individuals, are the variables that most likely influence the distribution of PCFG whales intra- and inter-annually.en_US
dc.description.proquestcode0306en_US
dc.description.scholarlevelGraduateen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1828/6563
dc.languageEnglisheng
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.rightsAvailable to the World Wide Weben_US
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ca/*
dc.subjectGray whaleen_US
dc.subjectEschrichtius robustusen_US
dc.subjectPacific Coastal Feeding Groupen_US
dc.subjectPCFGen_US
dc.subjectClayoquot Sounden_US
dc.subjectSite Fidelityen_US
dc.subjectMysiden_US
dc.titleCharacterizing site fidelity and habitat use of the eastern north Pacific gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) in Clayoquot Sound, British Columbiaen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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