TY - JOUR
T1 - Long-term individual sighting history database
T2 - An effective tool to monitor satellite tag effects on cetaceans
AU - Gendron, D.
AU - Serrano, I. Martinez
AU - de la Cruz, A. Ugalde
AU - Calambokidis, J.
AU - Mate, B.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The authors 2015.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - During the last 3 decades, tagging technology has been used to study different aspects of cetacean ecology. Tags implanted in animal's blubber, muscle and surrounding tissue have produced successful results, providing information on long-term movements. However, apart from the reports of 'divots' (depressions) and swelling at the tag sites in re-sighted large whales, little has been published about the long-term effects of tagging. Based on sighting history databases of photo-identified blue whales, we monitored the wound site of a satellite tag on an adult female blue whale over a period of 16 yr (1995 to 2011). This report describes the swelling reaction to a broken subdermal attachment from a tag designed early in the evolution of large whale tagging. The tag attachment remained embedded for a decade (much longer than expected), and may have affected the female's reproductive success during this period. The whale's calving history showed a total of 3 calves; 2 were prior to, and one ocurred after, the swelling period (1999 to 2007). We demonstrate the value of long-term monitoring programs in evaluating tag impacts, especially on endangered species.
AB - During the last 3 decades, tagging technology has been used to study different aspects of cetacean ecology. Tags implanted in animal's blubber, muscle and surrounding tissue have produced successful results, providing information on long-term movements. However, apart from the reports of 'divots' (depressions) and swelling at the tag sites in re-sighted large whales, little has been published about the long-term effects of tagging. Based on sighting history databases of photo-identified blue whales, we monitored the wound site of a satellite tag on an adult female blue whale over a period of 16 yr (1995 to 2011). This report describes the swelling reaction to a broken subdermal attachment from a tag designed early in the evolution of large whale tagging. The tag attachment remained embedded for a decade (much longer than expected), and may have affected the female's reproductive success during this period. The whale's calving history showed a total of 3 calves; 2 were prior to, and one ocurred after, the swelling period (1999 to 2007). We demonstrate the value of long-term monitoring programs in evaluating tag impacts, especially on endangered species.
KW - Blue whale
KW - Calving interval
KW - Long-term effect
KW - Monitoring
KW - Satellite tag
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84921645490&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3354/esr00644
DO - 10.3354/esr00644
M3 - Artículo
SN - 1863-5407
VL - 26
SP - 235
EP - 241
JO - Endangered Species Research
JF - Endangered Species Research
IS - 3
ER -