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Occurrence of dwarf minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata subsp.) around the Antarctic Peninsula

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Abstract

The occurrence of dwarf minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata subsp.) around the Antarctic Peninsula was examined based on 406 sightings of minke whales recorded during the Chilean Antarctic Scientific Expeditions and other opportunistic cetacean surveys. Identification of the species was made only for the whales sighted in the proximity of the vessels when the specific diagnostic characters could be confirmed. Of the 406 sightings, 296 were assigned to Antarctic (519 individuals), nine (11 individuals) to dwarf and 101 to unidentified minke whales (149 individuals). Dwarf minke whales were identified by the reported external diagnostic characters for this species. Seven animals occurred around the South Shetland Island and four in the Gerlache Strait. In addition, another two animals were identified as dwarf minke whales in the Bellinghausen Sea in winter 1993, being these the most southern records for this species. These results confirm the occurrence of dwarf minke whales around the Antarctic Peninsula during the summer seasons, as well as in the Bellinghausen Sea in winter. The geographical range of these sightings was comprised between 61°03′ and 69°25′S and between 55°29′ and 86°53′W. These results also suggest that some dwarf minke whales remain in the Antarctic during the austral winter.

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Acknowledgments

The CEQUA and INACH researchers thank the Directors of their institutions for providing support and funding for the Antarctic Peninsula cetacean surveys. We also thank reviewers for providing valuable comments that improved a previous version of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fundación CEQUA, Avda. Bulnes 01890, Punta Arenas, Chile

    Jorge Acevedo & Carlos Olavarría

  2. Independent Researcher, Ramón Menéndez Pidal 0294, Punta Arenas, Chile

    Jorge Plana

  3. Instituto Antártico Chileno, Plaza Muñoz Gamero 1055, Punta Arenas, Chile

    Anelio Aguayo-Lobo

  4. Brown Norte 554-C401, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile

    Antonio Larrea

  5. Institute of Cetacean Research, Toyomi 4-5, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0055, Japan

    Luis A. Pastene

Authors
  1. Jorge Acevedo
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  2. Carlos Olavarría
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  3. Jorge Plana
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  4. Anelio Aguayo-Lobo
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  5. Antonio Larrea
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  6. Luis A. Pastene
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Correspondence to Jorge Acevedo.

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Acevedo, J., Olavarría, C., Plana, J. et al. Occurrence of dwarf minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata subsp.) around the Antarctic Peninsula. Polar Biol 34, 313–318 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-010-0884-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-010-0884-y

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