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- Title
A simple photograph-based approach for discriminating between free-ranging long-finned ( Globicephala melas) and short-finned ( G. macrorhynchus) pilot whales off the east coast of the United States.
- Authors
Rone, Brenda K.; Pace, III, Richard M.
- Abstract
Line transect based abundance estimation is complicated for long-finned (LFPW, Globicephala melas) and short-finned (SFPW, G. macrorhynchus) pilot whales because of their similarity in appearance and their overlapping summertime range in some areas. We developed a photograph-based approach to distinguish between species of free-ranging pilot whales in the northwest Atlantic. We collected skin samples and photographs during the summers of 2004-2007 and used skin samples to distinguish species based on mitochondrial DNA. Relative morphometric measurements from photographs were examined using mixed-effect models and logistic regression. The best model among 94 candidate models had an overall classification error rate of 2.5%. We tested the presence/absence of pigmentation in four regions of the dorsal body (melon, eye, cape, and saddle) for differences. Pigmentation was present in all four regions in 100% of the SFPWs sampled. Melon patch, blaze, and saddle patch pigmentation were present in 6%, 68%, and 50%, respectively, of the LFPWs, but the cape was completely absent. Both types of analyses provided positive species discrimination of free-ranging animals. We created a cost-effective, simple tool which could ultimately assist in providing appropriate management, mitigation, and conservation strategies for both northwest Atlantic species of pilot whales.
- Subjects
UNITED States; PHOTOGRAPHS; GLOBICEPHALA macrorhynchus; COASTS; RANGE ecology; MODELS &; modelmaking
- Publication
Marine Mammal Science, 2012, Vol 28, Issue 2, p254
- ISSN
0824-0469
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1748-7692.2011.00488.x