To: Journey North
From: Anne Smrcina
Stellwagen Bank National Marine
Sanctuary
Greetings again from Plymouth, Massachusetts -- home of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary's administrative office as well as home of that famous rock.
Word from the Dominican Republic is that the whales are on the move. Kim Beddall, who we heard from earlier this season and who is co-owner of two whale watch vessels in Samana Bay, reports that most of the whales are gone except for some mother-calf pairs.
The whale watching season down there is pretty short (63 days) but she reports that this year they had rough conditions on many of those days (with strong winds out of the east and northeast). "But it didn't seem to affect the whales," notes Kim. She reported that a couple of patterns seemed to be occurring, with a dip in the number of whales in mid-February and a peak at the end of the month, along with a lot of really competitive behavior at the end of the season (first week in March). Competitive groups are usually made up of several males competing for a fertile female.
She reports that the whales probably left in waves (not all at once), with the pregnant females first along with juveniles, then followed by males and non-pregnant females, and finally females with calves.
CHALLENGE QUESTION # 43
"Why would whales leave the waters around the Dominican Republic in that order?"
(To respond to this question, please follow the instructions at the end of this report.)
In answer to last week's Challenge Question # 36 about Bermuda, I received many interesting responses from students, and I will place those responses below.
The answer to this challenge question is that "we don't really know for sure." I bet some of you may have come up with that answer. However, scientists do have a few theories as to what is going on. It may be that the whales are taking the easiest paths north and south. The whales may be hitching a ride on the Gulf Stream for the ride north and detouring to Bermuda to feed (a pit stop in the open ocean). Bermuda is one of the few rich (biologically-speaking) areas in a relatively open and unproductive area.
After a long (relatively foodless winter), the whales probably need to bulk up for the remainder of the migration. All of the whales from the Caribbean may take this initial path, and then split up as they get farther north, with each of the feeding groups heading to their respective summer grounds (Gulf of Maine, Gulf of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland, Greenland, Iceland).
For the trip south, after a long summer season gorging on fish and krill in northern waters, the whales may be making the migration without a "lunch break." By using a route that is out in the open ocean, they may have a more direct run to the Caribbean while avoiding the Gulf Stream. Scientists hope to affix some satellite tags on whales over the next few years to determine exactly what tracks they are taking north and south. Until then, it's educated guesswork.
I also received some word from my counterparts in Hawaii at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary where they report plenty of activity and social behavior, including the first documented case of a whale death attributed to a competitve group. [See the accompanying article from the Maui News about competitive behaviors]. On March 9, The Great Whale Count of 1996 recorded 795 humpback whales around Maui during a 3 hour period (the project is sponsored by the Pacific Whale Foundation). The Oahu count (sponsored by the Sanctuary) does not have its final tally yet, but at least 30 whales were seem from one station alone on the east side of the island.
I'll have more for you next week. This is Anne Smrcina signing off.
Students' Answers to Challenge Question # 36:
From SOUTH CAROLINA:
"Trent J. of Mrs. Gambrell's 3rd class stated that whales have their babies
during the spring. While Robert D. suggested that the waters in the Bermuda
area would be warmer for the mothers and their calves during the spring
also. Both students agreed that more whales might be in this area due to
the number of births in the spring. Sailing off til next time from
Lexington, S.C."
Theresa Harmon (oge@scsn.net)
From MAINE:
"Hello,
I'm a fifth grader at Pemetic Elem. School in Southwest Harbor,ME My answer
to challenge #36 is that the researchers go in the spring because they
want to see whales adjust to the new season ,warmer water, and their mating
activities when mating season begins."Michael A.Harper
Fran Howley (grade5fh@pemetic.u98.k12.me.us)
From MINNESOTA:
"I think because the humpbacks have babies in the spring and
not the fall." JOSE, LAKEVIEW SCHOOL
user@metro2.k12.mn.us
From FLORIDA:
"My name is Richard D'Souza, and I'm in third grade. I think researchers
go to the Bermuda in the spring because they can hear their song and study
them up close."
Sandy Beck beck@wane-leon-mail.scri.fsu.edu
How to Respond to Challenge Question #43
1. Send an e-mail message to: jn-challenge@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line write: Challenge Question #43
3. In the Body of your message, give the answer to this question:
"Why would whales leave the waters around the Dominican Republic in that order?"
Please include your school name and state or province so other students will know how to reach you.
The Next Humpback Whale Migration Update Will be Posted on March 27, 1996
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