Abstract—Observations were conducted from the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh in the Drake Passage, the vicinities of the Antarctic Peninsula, the Scotia Sea, and the northern Weddell Sea during two cruises in January–early March 2020 (cruise 79) and during a single cruise in January–February 2022 (cruise 87). The data make it possible to assess the number of the most abundant sea mammals in the area near the South Shetland Islands, Scotia Sea, and Powell Basin. The 2022 observation area in the Antarctic was located about 150 km east of the 2020 area. The survey area, which was a bit larger than 343 000 km2 in January–February 2020, hosted approximately 1200 humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and 2800 fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus). In 2022, this area hosted approximately 2500 fin whales and again more than 1200 humpback whales. The numbers of the Antarctic fur seals in each season here were assessed at approximately 2000–3000 animals. The type of distribution of these two whale species along the track of the vessel indicated the absence of intra- or interspecies food competition during the austral summers of 2020 and 2022. It was possible to evaluate the total numbers of Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella); however, this assessment appeared less precise than the same ones for humpback and fin whales.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors express their gratitude to the crew of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh, headed by Captain L.V. Sazonov.
Funding
The study was carried out in accordance with state tasks FFER-2019-0021 and FMWE-2022-0001.
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Kharitonov, S.P., Tretyakov, A.V., Chukmasov, P.V. et al. Number of the Most Abundant Marine Mammals Species in the Vicinities of the Antarctic Peninsula, Scotia Sea, and Powell Basin. Oceanology 63, 600–608 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001437023040069
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001437023040069