SORP Projects

Six projects have been proposed for SORP and will constitute the focus of work for SORP over the next five years. Short summaries of these projects follow with more detailed descriptions (in the form of IWC research project applications) available in the paper SORP Project descriptions.

1. Distribution, relative abundance, migration patterns and foraging ecology of three ecotypes of killer whales in the Southern Ocean

There are three ecotypes of killer whales described from Antarctic waters that comprise at least three separate species. Little is known about these ecotypes and it is important to understand these populations as killer whales play a key role in the Antarctic marine ecosystem. This is especially true with respect to the impacts that they have on prey populations including marine mammals, fish and penguins. This project will investigate the factors relative to the ecosystem impact of three species killer whales that occur in Antarctic and adjacent waters, by focusing on their systematic relationships, abundance, distribution, movement patterns and prey preferences. Collaborators are from USA, Brazil, France and Canada.

2. Foraging ecology and predator­prey interactions between baleen whales and krill: a multi­scale comparative study across Antarctic regions

Little is known about the dynamics of predator‐prey interactions and the response of baleen whales to the distribution of their prey in the Antarctic. As a particularly important marine ecosystem (e.g. climate change impacts and international management of marine living resources) research focused on cetacean foraging ecology in the Antarctic represents a critical data gap. We propose to use novel tagging technologies combined with traditional scientific hydro­acoustic methods to quantify the types and frequency of prey consumed and daily consumption rates of poorly understood yet ecologically integral and recovering krill predators in the Antarctic, the humpback and minke whale. Collaborators are from USA and Australia for phase 1 and potentially Brazil, South Africa and Germany for phase 2.

3. Acoustic trends in abundance, distribution, and seasonal presence of Antarctic blue whales and fin whales in the Southern Ocean

This initiative aims to implement a long term acoustic research program that will examine trends in Southern Ocean blue and fin whale population growth, distribution, and seasonal presence through the use of passive acoustic monitoring techniques. Current understanding of blue and fin whale life history characteristics, population abundance, and any post-whaling recovery is extremely limited. While obtaining accurate absolute abundance estimates is currently beyond the reach of passive acoustic methods, measures of relative abundance are easily obtainable and can be conducted in a consistent manner. Comparison of relative abundance estimates from individual locations across many years collected by acoustic surveys can provide a precise measure of population growth. Comparison of relative abundance estimates within and between locations and years can further be used to assess trends in distribution and seasonal presence over time. Collaborators are from Australia, France, USA and Germany.

4. What is the distribution and extent of mixing of Southern Hemisphere humpback whale populations around Antarctica? Phase 1: East Australia and Oceania

An improved understanding of the movements and mixing of humpback whales around Antarctica has been identified as a priority for the IWC. This information is integral to assessing the recovery of depleted populations. A key step in assessing recovery is estimating pre-exploitation size which requires knowledge of stock identity and appropriate allocation of historic catches to correct stocks. An improved understanding of the migratory and feeding behaviour of humpback whales would allow the more appropriate allocation of catches made in this region which would improve the accuracy of recovery assessments and estimates of pre-whaling population sizes. Collaborators include New Zealand, Australia, USA, France, Samoa, Tonga and Chile.

5. Living whales in the Southern Hemisphere

This project entails the undertaking of a technical conference/workshop to review the strengths and weaknesses of available non-lethal research methods for studies of living whale in the Southern Ocean and their ecological roles in the Southern Hemisphere. The objectives are to advance the synergies of non-lethal methods for investigations addressing five broad themes:

1. Population dynamics of recovering whales

2. Life history parameters of whales

3. Resource partitioning/competition of whales

4. The role of whales and their predators in the ecosystem

5. The response of whales to Climate change

Presentations will focus on methodological or technological advances to non-lethal methods, including those that are still under development, or with specific applications to populations in the Southern Hemisphere. Preliminary planning has been undertaken and this workshop is likely to be held in Valparaiso, Chile in late 2011. Collaborators include USA, Australian and Chile.

6. 2013/14 The SORP Year of the Whale

This project is still in its early stages of development but will represent a coordinated circumpolar research programme focusing on understanding the recovery of the great whales and understanding their important role in the Southern Ocean Ecosystem. Potential collaborators are all of the nations that have expressed support for SORP. The proposed objectives of the Year of the Blue Whale would be:

Any research effort to satisfy these objectives will require substantial methodological development to determine how to combine visual and acoustic survey techniques, as well as allow for off-survey activities including satellite tagging as well as biopsy and photograph collection.