Figure 1.
The study area showing the 33 lookout points used by the volunteer sighting network.
The bathymetry (gray lines) was digitized from large-scale NOAA charts, and is equivalent to 5.5, 9.1, and 18.3 m. The solid red line is the boundary of the SEUS Right Whale Critical Habitat, which is 5 nm (9.3 km) from the coast in this area. A key feature of the study area is the narrowing of the nearshore zone of shallowest waters (<10 m) and increased depth closer to shore.
Figure 2.
Swim speed for three categories of right whales (MC = mother/calf pairs, GRP = groups of ≥3, SPR = singles and non-mother-calf pairs) in nearshore waters of Florida, 2001–2007.
Shown are the overall range, inter-quartile range (box), median (center line), mean (dot), and the number of observations (follows).
Table 1.
Swim speeds (km/h) for three categories of right whales in coastal waters of northeastern Florida, 2001–2007. (See Fig. 2 for category definitions.)
Table 2.
Summary of swim-speed values for right whales in coastal waters of the SEUS.
Figure 3.
Swim speed for eight mother-calf pairs of right whales with at least three follows in nearshore waters of Florida, 2001–2007 (format as in Fig. 2).
Table 3.
Swim speeds (km/h) for eight different mother-calf pairs of right whales in coastal waters of northeastern Florida, 2001–2007.
Figure 4.
Mother-calf interactions and behaviors: a. Calf positioned diagonally with mother's chin touching calf. b. Calf's chin resting on mother's back. c. Mother inverted (belly up), calf swimming in the opposite direction. d. Calf apparently nursing. e. Calf “romping” across mother's head. (Graphics by P. Oberlander, based on photos).
Figure 5.
Sightings for female #2430 and calf during a nine-week period, 27 December 2006 to 24 February 2007, including several contributed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
During this period the pair swam south four times and north four times, traversing 158 nm (292 km), and passing by inlets and channel entrances on several occasions (points of possible increased risk to whales). Sighting frequency is related to effort (sighting effort was less south of Ponce Inlet). The movement can be tracked by following the sequence of numbers. Key: 1-12/27/06, 2-12/28, 3-12/29, 4-12/30, 5-1/03/07, 6-1/04, 7-1/05, 8-1/07, 9-1/09, 10-1/10, 11-1/16, 12-1/21, 13-1/27, 14-1/30, 15-2/02, 16-2/05, 17-2/12, 18-2/13, 19-2/18, 20-2/20, 21-2/21, 22-2/22, 23-2/24.