01980nas a2200181   4500008004100000245014800041210006900189260001600258490000600274520135900280100001501639700001601654700001901670700001401689700001301703700002801716856005401744       2019                        eng d00aLow energy expenditure and resting behaviour of humpback whale mother-calf pairs highlights conservation importance of sheltered breeding areas0 aLow energy expenditure and resting behaviour of humpback whale m  cJan-12-20190 v93 a<p>Understanding the behaviour of humpback whale mother-calf pairs and the acoustic environment on their breeding grounds is fundamental to assessing the biological and ecological requirements needed to ensure a successful migration and survival of calves. Therefore, on a breeding/resting ground, Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia, we used animal-borne DTAGs to quantify the fine-scale behaviour and energetic expenditure of humpback whale mothers and calves, while sound recorders measured the acoustic environment. We show that: (i) lactating humpback whales keep their energy expenditure low by devoting a significant amount of time to rest, and their use of energy, inferred from respiration rates, is ~half than that of adults on their foraging grounds; (ii) lactating females mainly rest while stationary at shallow depths within reach of the hull of commercial ships, thus increasing the potential for ship strike collisions; (iii) the soundscape is dominated by biological sources; and (iv) even moderate increases of noise from vessels will decrease the communication range of humpback whales. Planned commercial infrastructure in Exmouth Gulf will cause a substantial increase in shipping traffic with the risk of ship strikes and acoustic disturbance potentially compromising energy reserves for the southern migration of humpback whales.</p>
1 aBejder, L.1 aVidesen, S.1 aHermannsen, L.1 aSimon, M.1 aHanf, D.1 aMadsen, Peter, Teglberg  uhttp://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-36870-7