This web application uses cookies and other tracking technologies to ensure you get the best experience.
SC/68B/SH/03
Download this file4.7 MB |
Download |
View directly in browser4.7 MB |
View in browser |
Resource ID
17385
Access
Open
Document Number
SC/68B/SH/03
Full Title
Evaluating the evidence for population structure within Antarctic blue whales
Author
A.R. Lang, F.I. Archer, C. Attard, C.S. Baker, T. Branch, R.L. Brownell Jr., D. Buss, J. Jackson, N. Kelly, L. Moller, P. Olson, A. Sirovic and A. Sremba
Publisher
International Whaling Commission
Publication Year
2020
Abstract
Previous assessments have assumed that Antarctic blue whales comprise a single circumpolar population. For the upcoming assessment, it has been proposed that the base case continue to focus on one circumpolar assessment. However, given that effort has been higher in some areas (in particular, Management Area III, where c.200 whales have been photo-identified) than it has been in others, the potential for doing regional assessments (i.e., within one or a few areas) was discussed at SC68a. Conducting regional assessments would require an understanding of the degree of connectivity between areas, and the SH sub-committee agreed to review the available evidence for population structure to evaluate the potential for including regional assessments as sensitivity analyses. Here we summarize the available evidence from different research fields.