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The distribution and habitat preference of coastally occurring minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in the outer southern Moray Firth, northeast Scotland

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Abstract

The coastal waters of the Moray Firth in northeast Scotland (57º41’N 2º40’W) provide rich, inshore feeding grounds for minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) during the summer and autumnal months. In order to better understand the habitat selection, movements and feeding ecology of the animals utilising this North Sea region, distribution data from the southern coastline of the outer Moray Firth were subsequently examined with respect to the marine physiography of the area, specifically the environmental variables water depth, slope, aspect and sediment-type. A total of 305 minke whale encounters – collected from dedicated boat surveys conducted between May and October 2001 to 2006 inclusive – were used in the construction of a Geographic Information System (GIS) for the 860 square-km study site. The subsequent analysis revealed a strong spatial preference by whales in this location for water depths between 20 and 50 metres (mean 46.9 m, SD = 30.9), steep slopes (mean 75.7 degrees, SD = 8.9), a northerly-facing aspect and sandy-gravel sediment type. Kruskal-Wallis tests for variance confirmed that the distribution of B. acutorostrata was significantly different across each of these physiographic features examined (P < 0.05). In particular, water depth and sediment type were shown to be highly correlated with the frequency of whales observed (Spearman’s Rank Correlation P < 0.05 for depth and sediment respectively). From these results, we conclude that sea bottom characteristics may be used to predict the fine-scale distribution of minke whales on their feeding grounds; the physiographic features identified providing valuable proxies for inferring prey distributions in the absence of fisheries data. However, an appreciation of both abiotic and biotic factors (using a combination of GIS and remote sensing outputs) is clearly desirable for ecosystem-based management approaches for the coastal conservation of these whales. The application of GIS capacities to ecological studies based largely on field data of these marine mammals is highly recommended in the present study to cetologists, environmental modellers and conservation managers alike.

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Acknowledgements

This work was carried out under licence from Scottish Natural Heritage with financial assistance from the Earthwatch Institute, Ecocorps Scotland and Care for the Wild International. Many thanks to the numerous staff, students and volunteers participating in this study between 2001 and 2006, who spent long hours in the field assisting with boat work, data collection and analyses. Special thanks go to former and present colleagues Nick Duthie, Joanne Weare, Liz Pelonzi, Kathryn Dick, Sonja Eisfeld, Tracy Guild, Ross Culloch, Cameron McPherson, Christine O’Sullivan, Nicola Clark, Gary Haskins and Nina Baumgartner for field, logistical and technical support. We also thank Sarah Cheeseman for proof reading, and Andreas Fahlman, Colin MacLeod, Mark Simmonds and two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript. Finally, a big thank you to the Trustees and members of the CRRU for ongoing support, and to John Goold (formerly Bangor University) for facilitating the partnership between the collaborating authors and their respective institutions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU), PO Box 11307, Banff, AB45 3WB, Scotland, UK

    Kevin P. Robinson & Michael J. Tetley

  2. School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5AB, Wales, UK

    Michael J. Tetley & E. Gay Mitchelson-Jacob

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  1. Kevin P. Robinson
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  2. Michael J. Tetley
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  3. E. Gay Mitchelson-Jacob
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Correspondence to Kevin P. Robinson.

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Robinson, K.P., Tetley, M.J. & Mitchelson-Jacob, E.G. The distribution and habitat preference of coastally occurring minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in the outer southern Moray Firth, northeast Scotland. J Coast Conserv 13, 39–48 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-009-0050-2

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