High pregnancy rates in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) around the Western Antarctic Peninsula, evidence of a rapidly growing population.
High pregnancy rates in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) around the Western Antarctic Peninsula, evidence of a rapidly growing population.
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南极西部半岛周围座头鲸（Megaptera novaeangliae）的怀孕率很高，这是其种群快速增长的证据。
DOI：
10.1098/rsos.180017
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发表时间：
2018
影响因子：
3.5
通讯作者：
Friedlaender,AriS
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Pallin,LoganJ;Baker,CScott;Steel,Debbie;Kellar,NicholasM;Robbins,Jooke;Johnston,DavidW;Nowacek,DougP;Read,AndrewJ;Friedlaender,AriS
南极座头鲸正在从因商业捕鲸而濒临灭绝的情况中恢复过来。为了了解这种恢复的动态并建立监测快速变化的环境影响的基线，我们调查了南极半岛西部（WAP）饲养种群中雌性的性别比例和怀孕率。对 577 个组织样本（2010-2016 年）进行的 DNA 分析鉴定出 239 名男性和 268 名女性。鲸脂黄体酮水平表明，接受活检的雌性中有 63.5% 怀孕了。这一比例逐年变化很大，从 2010 年的 36% 到 2014 年的 86%。对夏季和秋季收集的样本进行比较显示，在场女性（50% 至 59%）和怀孕女性（59% 至 72%）的比例显着增加，这与迁徙时间的人口统计差异一致。我们还发现了雌性每年繁殖的证据。带着小牛的雌性有 54.5% 怀孕了。这些高怀孕率与从过去的剥削中恢复的种群一致，但似乎与最近对 WAP 座头鲸种群增长的估计不一致。因此，我们的结果将有助于更好地了解人口增长潜力，并设定当前基线，以确定气候变化和变异对生育力和繁殖率的影响。
Antarctic humpback whales are recovering from near extirpation from commercial whaling. To understand the dynamics of this recovery and establish a baseline to monitor impacts of a rapidly changing environment, we investigated sex ratios and pregnancy rates of females within the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) feeding population. DNA profiling of 577 tissue samples (2010–2016) identified 239 males and 268 females. Blubber progesterone levels indicated 63.5% of the females biopsied were pregnant. This proportion varied significantly across years, from 36% in 2010 to 86% in 2014. A comparison of samples collected in summer versus fall showed significant increases in the proportion of females present (50% to 59%) and pregnant (59% to 72%), consistent with demographic variation in migratory timing. We also found evidence of annual reproduction among females; 54.5% of females accompanied by a calf were pregnant. These high pregnancy rates are consistent with a population recovering from past exploitation, but appear inconsistent with recent estimates of WAP humpback population growth. Thus, our results will help to better understand population growth potential and set a current baseline from which to determine the impact of climate change and variability on fecundity and reproductive rates.