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Author Biographies
I Carvalho
Faculdade de Ciências do Mar e Ambiente – Universidade do Algarve, Campus Gambelas, 8000-139 Faro, Portugal; Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th street, New York, NY 10024, USA; Cetacean Conservation and Research and Ocean Giants Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460-1099, USA
C Brito
Centro de História de Além-Mar, Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida de Berna, 26 C, 1069-061 Lisboa, Portugal; Escola de Mar – Edifício ICAT Campus da FCUL, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
ME dos Santos
Eco-Ethology Research Unit, ISPA – Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim do Tabaco, 34, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal
HC Rosenbaum
Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th street, New York, NY 10024, USA; Cetacean Conservation and Research and Ocean Giants Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460-1099, USA
Main Article Content
The waters of São Tomé: a calving ground for West African humpback whales?
I Carvalho
C Brito
ME dos Santos
HC Rosenbaum
Abstract
In the Southern Hemisphere, humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae feed in Antarctic waters during the austral summer and migrate to their breeding grounds in subtropical and tropical waters during the winter. Historical whaling records suggest that the Archipelago of São Tomé and Príncipe, located in the Gulf of Guinea, serves as a possible breeding ground. In order to investigate the temporal occurrence and group composition of humpback whales around São Tomé Island, annual surveys were conducted during the breeding season between 2002 and 2006. A total of 186 boat-based surveys took place during this period. Data collected during each sighting included geographical positions, group size, group composition and behavioural classifications. Of the 66 groups encountered, mother/calf pairs made up a large proportion (65.15%), followed by solitary individuals (15.15%). Mother/calf pairs were seen in the region into November and resightings of identified animals indicate periods of occupancy that extended over three weeks. Few behaviours typically associated with mating activity were observed. Given the high percentage of mother/calf pairs, sometimes with very young calves, and the low frequency of mating activity, the waters of São Tomé may primarily serve as a calving and nursing or resting area for humpback whales.
Keywords: behaviour, breeding grounds, group composition, South Atlantic
African Journal of Marine Science 2011, 33(1): 91–97
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