Dear Colleagues,

The scientific article "Distribution of humpback whales off north-west 
Australia highlighting Exmouth Gulf nursery area" is published in Australian 
Journal of Zoology.

Free download: https://www.publish.csiro.au/ZO/ZO24020

Authors: Kate Sprogis, Alicia Sutton, Micheline Jenner, Curt Jenner.

Abstract: Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) migrate from their Antarctic 
feeding grounds to their north-west Australian breeding grounds. North-west 
Australia has experienced rapid development of the mining and petroleum 
industry, and remains under increasing human pressure. The aim of this study 
was to examine the spatiotemporal distribution of humpback whales across the 
north-west; North West Cape, Pilbara and Exmouth Gulf. Aerial surveys (n = 184) 
were conducted from 2000 to 2010. After accounting for survey effort, kernel 
density estimation was used to assess the monthly distribution of whales. The 
largest density hotspot of whale groups was the centre to western edge of 
Exmouth Gulf. The highest encounter rate of mother-calf pairs was in October in 
Exmouth Gulf (0.0447 ± 0.0082 groups/km), which was significantly higher 
compared to the North West Cape and Pilbara (0.0005 ± 0.0002 and 0.0011 ± 
0.0005 groups/km, respectively). The comparison among the three regions 
confirms and quantifies Exmouth Gulf as an important nursery area for humpback 
whale mother-calf pairs. Nursery areas are important for lactating humpback 
whale mothers as they carry the highest energetic demands in the population. It 
is crucial that nursery areas remain relatively undisturbed from human 
pressures so mothers can rest to conserve energy and nurse their young.

Citation:
Sprogis, K. R., A. L. Sutton, M.-N. Jenner, and K. C. S. Jenner. 2024. 
Distribution of humpback whales off north-west Australia highlighting Exmouth 
Gulf nursery area. Australian Journal of Zoology. 
https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO24020

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Kind regards,

On behalf of all authors

Kate Sprogis, PhD
Lecturer
UWA Oceans Institute * School of Biological Sciences
Great Southern Marine Research Facility
UWA Albany campus WA 6330 Australia
kate.spro...@uwa.edu.au
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[cid:image002.jpg@01DB3CC9.C8306730]
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Noongar-Menang Country and pay our 
respects to custodians of the land and sea on which we live and work.

Recent publications:

  *   Sprogis K. R., and F. Christiansen 2024. Allosuckling in southern right 
whale calves. Mammalian Biology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-023-00392-1
  *   Arranz P., R. De la Cruz-Modino, and K.R. Sprogis. 2024. Investigating 
the effects of underwater noise from two vessels on the behaviour of 
short-finned pilot whales. Marine Environmental Research. 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106574.

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