TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of fine-scale oceanographic features on the distribution and movements of harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena in the Bay of Fundy
AU - Johnson, D
AU - Westgate, A
AU - Read, A
T2 - Marine Ecology Progress Series
AB - We describe an integrative approach to studying the fine-scale distribution of harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena in the Bay of Fundy, using satellite telemetry, line transect surveys and remote sensing techniques. Analysis of satellite telemetry data from 6  porpoises (5 male, 1 female) revealed that over the course of a month individuals ranged across large areas (7738 to 11289 km2) but concentrated their movements in small focal regions (August mean = 294 km2, September mean = 252 km2), often proximate to  islands, headlands, or restricted channels. Line transect surveys (n =25 flood tide, n = 20 ebb tide) in the focal region of 2 tagged animals revealed that relative porpoise density (animals km–2) was significantly greater during flood (9.59) than ebb tide phases (1.79). Hydro-acoustic prey surveys revealed aggregations of prey along localized fronts in this region. Remote sensing images indicated the presence of an island wake in the focal region during flood tides, providing an ecological context for our observations of high  densities of porpoises. Remote sensing revealed the existence of a headland wake in the focal region of another porpoise near Campobello Island. These results support the hypothesis that regions of enhanced relative vorticity, like island and headland wakes, aggregate prey  and represent important foraging habitat for harbour porpoises in the Bay of Fundy.
DA - 2005/06//
PY - 2005
VL - 295
SP - 279
EP - 293
UR - https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v295/p279-293/
DO - 10.3354/meps295279 
LA - English
KW - Marine Mammals
KW - Cetaceans
ER -