Absolute and relative abundance estimates of Australian east cost humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)

Noad, M. J., Cato, D. H. and Paton, D. (2005). Absolute and relative abundance estimates of Australian east cost humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). In: , Proceedings of ULSAN 2005. The 57th Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), Lotte Hotel, Ulsan, Republic of Korea, (1-9). 20-24 June, 2005.


Author Noad, M. J.
Cato, D. H.
Paton, D.
Title of paper Absolute and relative abundance estimates of Australian east cost humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Conference Paper Type Fully Published Paper
Conference name The 57th Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC)    (ERA 2010 Rank C)
Conference location Lotte Hotel, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
Conference dates 20-24 June, 2005
Proceedings title Proceedings of ULSAN 2005
Place published Cambridge, U.K.
Publisher International Whaling Commission
Publication date 2005
Start page 1
End page 9
Total pages 9
Language eng
Abstract/Summary The humpback whales that migrate along the east coast of Australia were hunted to near-extinction in the 1950s and early 1960s. Two independent series of land-based surveys conducted over the last 25 years during the whales’ northward migration along the Australian coastline have demonstrated a rapid increase in the size of the population. In 2004 we conducted a survey of the migratory population as a continuation of these series of surveys. Two methods of data analysis were used in line with the previous surveys, both for calculation of absolute and relative abundance. We consider the best estimates for 2004 to be 7,090 ± 660 (95% CI) whales with an annual rate of increase of 10.6 ± 0.5% (95% CI) for 1987 – 2004. The rate of increase agrees with those previously obtained for this population and demonstrates the continuation of a strong post-exploitation recovery. While there are still some uncertainties concerning the absolute abundance estimate and structure of this population, the rate of annual increase should be independent of these and highly robust.
Subjects 270702 Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl. Marine Ichthyology)
771103 Living resources (flora and fauna)
EX
Keyword Survey - land-based
Australian humpback whales
Megaptera novaeangliae
Humback whales
Abundance estimate
Trends
Migration
Q-Index Code EX
Additional Notes Paper SC/A06/HW27 presented to the Workshop on the Comprehensive Assessment of Southern Hemisphere humpback whales, 4-7 April 2006, Hobart, Tasmania. [2006]

Document type: Conference Paper
Sub-type: Fully Published Paper
Collections: Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) - Collection
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Created: Tue, 14 Aug 2007, 13:44:19 EST