New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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SPERM WHALES IN THE WESTERN SOUTH PACIFIC

D. E. Gaskin

Department of Zoology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Abstract The distribution and movements of sperm whales, Physeter catodon Linn., in the western South Pacific (latitudes 30-70° S, longitudes 150E-150°W) are examined. An undetermined number of catches by nineteenth century American whaleships, 9,720 catches by pelagic fleets in 1961-70, and 427 sightings in 1967 are analysed and correlated with oceanographic data from Australian and New Zealand surveys.

The proportion of females decreases southwards, abruptly at about latitude 44° S in the Tasman Sea, and at about 46-47° S east of New Zealand. Virtually no females occur south of 50° S. The male population density also decreases southwards: the density between 50-70° S appears to be less than 25% of that between 30-50° S. Sperm whales also appear to be less abundant in the eastern part of the region away from the New Zealand plateau, but more data are required.

The pattern of distribution and its seasonal changes probably correlate with vertical temperature gradients of about 5°c in the upper 100 m of water

N.Z. Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 7 (1 & 2) : 1-20.
Received for publication 17 December 1968; final revision received 1 November 1972

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (1017K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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