Research Grant
[Cite as http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nesp/mb/a7]Researchers: John Bannister (Principal investigator)
Brief description
Continuation (since 1993) of annual aerial surveys, to include counts and identification photographs, of Southern Right whales between Cape Leeuwin (WA) and Ceduna (SA), where wintering animals come close to the coast – adult females to calve, at approximately three-year intervals, other adults and juveniles less regularly. The area is the main wintering ground of a major ‘western’ subpopulation of ‘Australian’ right whales, differing in number and extent of recovery (from 19th century hunting) from an ‘eastern’ subpopulation which so far shows little if any recovery. Counts allow estimation of population trend and current numbers; identification photographs allow estimation of life history parameters. .
Objectives:
a) continue collection of the dataset, i.e. counts and photographs, of southern right whales, from the southern coast between C Leeuwin WA and Ceduna SA, as in each year since 1993.
b) continue ‘matching’ photographs of head callosities obtained on the flights using a computer-assisted system against those (some 2000 individuals) in the existing identification catalogue.
c) continue databasing existing information on sightings, linked to animals already
Notes In addition to the NESP funding, this project is matched by an equivalent amount of in-kind support and co-investment from project partners and collaborators.
