Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

How Persistent are Marine Mammal Habitats in an Ocean of Variability?

Habitat use, home range and site fidelity in marine mammals

  • Chapter
Marine Mammals

Abstract

Marine mammals are highly mobile and capable of travelling long distances. Some species do undergo long seasonal migrations, mainly north-south movements between breeding and foraging grounds. Other species may follow their prey species in an offshore-onshore seasonal migration pattern. Some species, despite their capacity for migration, are resident in relatively small areas throughout the year. These species are dependent upon the continuous availability of food within their local habitats. In some cases, displacements or shifts in distribution of marine mammals occur which are not related to annual migrations, and these events may reflect changes in the quality or availability of their preferred habitats.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Bailey, R.S. (1982) The population biology of blue whiting. Advances in Maine Biology, 19, 257–355.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baumgartner, M.F. (1997) The distribution of Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus ) with respect to the physiography of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Marine Mammal Science, 13(4), 614–638.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bekkby, T. and Bjørge, A. (1998a) Behaviour of pups and adult female harbour seals Phoca vitulina during late lactation and first post weaning period. World Marine Mammal Science Conference, January 1998 [Abstract]

    Google Scholar 

  • Bekkby, T. and Bjørge, A. (1998b) Variation in stomach temperature as indicator of meal size in harbour seal, Phoca vitulina. Marine Mammal Science, 14(3), 627–637.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Béland, P., De Guise, S., Girard, C, Lagace, A., Martineau, D., Michaud, R., Muir, D.C.G., Norstrom, R.J., Pellitier, E., Ray, S. and Shugart, L.R. (1993) Toxic compounds and health and reproductive effects in St. Lawrence beluga whales. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 19, 766–775.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bergman, A. (1997) Trends of disease complex in Baltic grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) from 1977 to 1996: improved gynecological health but still high prevalence of fatal intestinal wounds. WP 19 presented at the ICES Working Group on seals and small cetaceans in European seas, April 1997 (unpublished).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergman, A., and Olsson, M. (1986) Pathology of Baltic grey seal and ringed seal females with special reference to adrenocortical hyperplasia: Is environmental pollution the cause of a widely distributed disease syndrome? Finnish Game Research, 44, 47–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergman, A., Olsson, M., and Reiland, S. (1992) Skull-bone lesions in the Baltic grey seal (Halichoerus grypus). Ambio, 21(8), 517–519.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bigg M.A. (1981) Harbour seal Phoca vitulina Linnaeus, 1758 and Phoca largha Pallas, 1811. In: Handbook of Marine Mammals. Volume 2: Seals. (Ed. by S.H. Ridgway and R.J. Harrison), pp. 1–27. Academic Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bjørge A. (1991) Status of the harbour seal Phoca vitulina L. in Norway. Biological Conservation, 58, 229–238.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bjørge, A. (1993) The harbour seal, Phoca vitulina L, in Norway and the role of science in management. Dr.scient thesis. Institute of Fishery and marine Biology. University of Bergen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bjørge, A., Steen, H. and Stenseth, N.C. (1994) The effect of stochasticity in birth and survival on small populations of the harbour seal Phoca vitulina L. Sarsia, 79, 151–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bjørge, A., Thompson, D., Hammond, P.S., Fedak, M.A., Bryant, E., Aarefjord, H., Roen, R. and Olsen, M. (1995) Habitat use and diving behaviour of harbour seals in a coastal archipelago in Norway. In: Whales, seals, fish and man. (Ed. by A.S. Blix, L. Walløe and Ø. Ulltang), pp. 211–223. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloch, D., Hoydal, K., Joensen, J.S. and Zachariassen, P. (1990) The Faroese catch of longfinned pilot whales. Bias shown of the 280 year time series. Journal of North Atlantic Studies, 2 (1-2), 45–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Born, E.W., Gjertz, I. and Reeves, R.R. (1995) Population assessment of Atlantic walrus. Norwegian Institute of Polar Research, Meddelelser no. 138, 1–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braaten, B.E.P., Bjørge, A., Thompson, D., and Bryant, E. (1998) Strategies for optimising energy expenditure and energy intake during foraging dives of free ranging harbour seals. Paper ICES CM.1998/CC1 presented to ICES ASC, September 1998 (unpublished), 1–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, F. and Mate, B.R. (1983) Abundance, movements, and feeding habits of harbor seals, Phoca vitulina, at Netarts and Tillamook Bays, Oregon. Fishery Bulletin, 81, 291–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burns, J.J., Shapiro, L.H. and Fay, F.H. (1981) Ice as marine mammal habitat in the Bering Sea. In: The Eastern Bering Sea Shelf: Oceanography and Resources. Vol. 2. (Ed. by D.W. Hood and J.A. Calder), pp. 781–797. University of Washington Press, Seattle.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burt, W.H. (1943) Territoriality and home range concepts as applied to mammals. Journal of Mammalogy, 24, 346–352.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calambokidis, J., Chandler, T.E., Costa, D.P., Clark, C.W., and Whitehead, H. (1998) Effects of the ATOC sound source on the distribution of marine mammals observed from aerial surveys off Central California. The World Marine Mammal Science Conference, January 1998. [Abstract]

    Google Scholar 

  • De Guise, S., Lagacé, A., and Béland, P. (1994a) Tumors in St. Lawrence beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas). Veterinary Pathology, 31(4), 444–449.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Guise, S., Lagacé, A., and Béland, P. (1994b) Gastric papillomas in eight St. Lawrence beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas). Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigations, 6, 385–388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Guise, S., Martineau, D., Béland, P., and Fournier, M. (1995a) Possible mechanisms of action of environmental contaminants on St. Lawrence beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas). Environmental Health Perspectives, 103 (Suppl. 4), 73–77.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dixon, K.R. and Chapman, J.A. (1980) Harmonic mean measures of animal activity areas. Ecology, 61, 1040–1044.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, J.E. and Gibson, P.S. (1977) Analysis of radio telemetry data in studies of home range. Biometrics, 33,85–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fay, F.H. (1982) Ecology and biology of the Pacific walrus, Odobenus rosmarus divergens Illiger. North American Fauna 74. US Dept of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, 1 - 279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fay, F.H., Fedwer, H.M. and Stoker, S.W. (1977) An estimate of the impact of the Pacific walrus population on its food resources in the Bering Sea. PB 273 505, Nat. Tech. Inform. Serv. Springfield, 1–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fay, F.H. and Stoker, S.W. (1982) Analysis of reproductive organs and stomach contents from walruses taken in the Alaskan native harvest, spring 1980. Report presented to US Fish and Wildlife Service. Anchorage, 1 - 86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fedosev, G.A. (1976) Giants of the polar seas. Priroda, 1976 (8), 76–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Folkow, L.P. and Blix, A.S. (1995) Distribution and diving behaviour of hooded seals. In: Whales, seals, fish and man. (Ed. by A.S. Blix, L. Walløe and Ø. Ulltang), pp. 193–202. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Folkow, L.P. and Blix, A.S. (1999) Diving behaviour of hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) in the Greenland and Norwegian seas. Polar Biology, 22, 61–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Folkow, L., Mårtensson, P.-E. and Blix, A.S. (1996) Annual distribution of hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) in the Greenland and Norwegian Seas. Polar Biology, 16, 179–189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gearin, P.J., Gosho; M.E., Laake, J.L. and DeLong, R.L. (1998) Evaluation of effectiveness of pingers to reduce incidental entanglement of harbour porpoise in a set gillnet fishery. World Marine Mammal Science Conference, January 1998 [Abstract]

    Google Scholar 

  • Geraci, J.R., Palmer, N.C., and St. Aubin, D.J. (1987) Tumours in cetaceans: analysis and new findings. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 4, 1289–1300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gjertz, I. and Wiig, Ø. (1995) The number of walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) in Svalbard in summer. Polar Biology, 15, 557–530.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gulliksen, B. and Lønne, O.J. (1989) Distribution, abundance and ecological importance of marine sympagic fauna in the Arctic. Raport proces-verbal de la Reunion Conseil Internationalpor l’ Exploration de la Mer. 188, 133–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haug, T., Gjøsæter, H., Lindstrøm, U., Nilssen, K.T. and Røttingen, I. (1995) Spatial and temporal variations in northeast Atlantic minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) feeding habits. In: Whales, seals, fish and man. (Ed. by A.S. Blix, L. Walløe and 0. Ulltang), pp. 225–40. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayne, D.W. (1949) Calculations of size of home range. Journal of Mammalogy, 39, 190–206.

    Google Scholar 

  • Helle, E., Olsson, M., and Jensen, S. (1976a) PCB levels correlated with pathological changes in seal uteri. Ambio, 5(4), 261–263.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Helle, E., Olsson, M., and Jensen, S. (1976b) DDT and PCB levels and reproduction in ringed seal from the Bothnian Bay. Ambio, 5(4), 188–189.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Helle, E. (1980) Lowered reproductive capacity in female ringed seals (Pusa hispida) in the Bothnian Bay, northern Baltic Sea, with special reference to uterine occlusions. Annales Zoologici. Fennici, 17, 147–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • ICES (1997) Report of the ICES Working Group on seals and small cetaceans in European Seas, April 1997 (unpublished).

    Google Scholar 

  • ICES (1998) Report of the ICES Working Group on Marine Mammal Habitats, March 1998 (unpublished).

    Google Scholar 

  • IWC (1999) Report of the workshop on chemical pollution and cetaceans. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management (special issue 1) 1-42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jefferson, T.A., and Curry, B.E. (1996) Acoustic methods of reducing or eliminating marine mammal-fishery interactions: do they work? Ocean and Coastal Management, 31, 41–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kastelein, R.A., Goodson, A.D., Lien, J., and de Haan, D. (1995) The effects of acoustic alarms on harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) behaviour. In: Harbour porpoises - laboratory studies to reduce bycatch. (Ed. by P.E. Nachtigall, J. Lien, W.W.L. Au, and A.J. Read), pp. 157–68. De Spil Publ., Woerden, Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kenward, R.E. and Hodder, K.H. (1996) Ranges V. Analysis system for biological location data. Institute for Terrestrial Ecology. Wareham, Dorset, UK. 69pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kingsley, M.C.S. (1998) Population index estimates for the St. Lawrence belugas 1973-1995. Marine Mammal Science, 14(3), 508–530.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence, E. (ed) (1989) Henderson `s dictionary of biological terms. 10th edition. Longman Scientific & Technical. London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lurz, P.W.W., Garson, P.J. and Wauters, L.A. (1997) Effects of temporal and spatial variation in habitat quality on red squirrel dispersal behaviour. Animal Behaviour, 54, 427–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lønne, O.J. and Gulliksen, B. (1989) Size, age and diet of polar cod, Boreogadus saida (Lepechin 1773), in ice covered waters. Polar Biology, 9, 187–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, A.R. (1990) Whales and Dolphins. Salamander Books Ltd. London, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martineau, D., Beland, P., Desjardins, C. and Lagace, A. (1987) Levels of organochlorine chemicals in tissues of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from the St. Lawrence Estuary, Quebec, Canada. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 16, 137–147.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martineau, D., Lagacé, A., Massé, R., Morin, M. and Béland, P. (1985) Transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder in a beluga whale (Delphapterus leucas). Canadian Veterinary Journal, 26, 297–302.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martineau, D., Lair, S., De Guise, S., Lipscomb, T.P. and Béland, P. (1999) Cancer in beluga whales from the St. Lawrence estuary, Quebec, Canada: a potential biomarker of environmental contamination. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management (special issue 1)249-265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohr, CO. (1947) Table of equivalent populations of North American small mammals. American Midland. Naturalist, 37, 223–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mortensen, P., Bergman, A., Bignert, A., Hansen, H.J., Härkönen, T. and Olsson, M. (1992) Prevalence of skull lesions in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in Swedish and Danish museum collections: 1835-1988. Ambio, 21(8), 520–524.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsson, M., Karlsson, B. and Ahnland, E. (1994) Diseases and environmental contaminants in seals from the Baltic and the Swedish west coast. Science of the Total Environment, 154,217–227.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pribil, S. and Pieman, J. (1997) The importance of using the proper methodology and spatial scale in the study of habitat selection by birds. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 75, 1835–1844.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Read, A.J. (1995) New approaches to studying the foraging ecology of small cetaceans. In: Whales, seals, fish and man. (Ed. by A.S. Blix, L. Walløe and 0. Ulltang), pp. 183–191. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reeves, R.R., Hofrnan, R.J., Silber, G.K. and Wilkinson, D. (eds) (1996) Acoustic deterrence of harmful marine mammal-fishery interactions: proceedings of a workshop held in Seattle, Washington, 20-22 March 1996. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roen, R. and Bjørge, A. (1995) Haul-out behaviour of the Norwegian harbour seal during summer. In: Whales, seals, fish and man. (Ed. by A.S. Blix, L. Walløe and 0. Ulltang), pp. 61–67. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakshaug, E., Bjørge, A., Gulliksen, B., Loeng, H. and Mehlum, F. (1994) Structure, biomass distribution, and energetics of the pelagic ecosystem in the Barents Sea: A synopsis. Polar Biology, 14,405–411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanderson, G.C. (1966) The study of mammal movements - a review. Journal of Wildlife Management, 30,215–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Staus, N. L. (1998) Habitat use and home range of West Indian whistling-ducks. Journal of Wildlife Management, 62, 171 -178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stede, G., and Stede, M. (1990) Orientierende Untersuchungen von Seehundschädeln auf pathologische Knochenveränderungen. In: Zoologischen und ethologische Unter-suchungen zum Robbensterben, pp. 31–53. Institut für Haustierkunde, Kiel, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, B.S. (1984) Diurnal hauling patterns of harbor seals at San Miguel Island, California. Journal of Wildlife Management, 48, 1459–1461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, B.S., Leatherwood, S., Yochem, P.K. and Heide-Jørgensen, M.P. (1989) Harbor seal tracking and telemetry by satellite. Marine Mammal Science, 5, 361–375.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Syvertsen, E.E. (1991) Ice algae in the Barents Sea: types of assemblages, origin, fate and role in the ice-edge phytoplankton bloom. Polar Research, 10, 277–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tester, J.R. and Siniff, D.B. (1965) Aspects of animal movement and home range data obtained by telemetry. Trans.North American Wildlife and Nature Research Conference, 30, 379–392.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, P.M. (1989) Seasonal changes in the distribution and composition of common seal (Phoca vitulind) haul-out groups. Journal of Zoology (London), 217, 281–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, P.M. (1993) Harbour seal movement patterns. In: Marine mammals. Advances in behavioural and population biology. (Ed. by I.L. Boyd), pp. 225–39. Symp Zool Soc Lond, 66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, P.M. and Miller, D. (1990) Summer foraging activity and movements of radiotagged common seals (Phoca vitulina L) in the Moray Firth, Scotland. Journal of applied Ecology, 27,492–501.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, P.M., Pierce, G.J., Hislop, J.R.G., Miller, D. and Diack, J.W.S. (1991) Winter foraging by common seals (Phoca vitulina) in relation to food availability in inner Moray Firth, N.E. Scotland. Journal of Animal Ecology, 60, 283–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tynan, C.T. and DeMaster, D.P. (1997) Observations and predictions of Arctic climate change: potential effects on marine mammals. Arctic, 50(4), 308–322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wartzok, D. and Ray, G.C. (1980) The hauling out behavior of the Pacific walrus. Rep US Marine Mammal Commission, Contract MM5ACO28. US Marine Mammal Commission, Washington, DC. 1–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wartzok, D. and Ray, G.C. (1981) Sea ice determinants of walrus hauling-out behavior. 4th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. San Francisco, December 1981 [Abstract]

    Google Scholar 

  • White, G.C. and Garrott, R.A. (1990) Analysis of wildlife radio-tracking data. Academic Press. New York. 383pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiig, Ø., Gjertz, I., Griffith, D. and Lydersen, C. (1993) Diving patterns of an Atlantic walrus Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus near Svalbard. Polar Biology, 13, 71–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woodward, B., and Goodson, A.D. (1994) Prevention of the by-catch of cetaceans by exploiting their acoustic capability. Report for the European Commission DG XIV, special study contract PEM/93/04 (unpublished).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zachariassen, P. (1993) Pilot whale catches in the Faroe Islands, 1709-1992. Report of the International Whaling Commission (special issue 14), 67-88.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 1870, Nordnes, Bergen, 5817, Norway

    Arne Bjørge

Authors
  1. Arne Bjørge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sea Watch Foundation, Oxford, England

    Peter G. H. Evans

  2. University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

    Juan Antonio Raga

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2002 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bjørge, A. (2002). How Persistent are Marine Mammal Habitats in an Ocean of Variability?. In: Evans, P.G.H., Raga, J.A. (eds) Marine Mammals. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0529-7_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0529-7_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-306-46573-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-0529-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation