Ecologia do movimento de baleias jubarte em áreas de reprodução e alimentação: biotelemetria como ferramenta para o monitoramento de mamíferos marinhos

Abstract

Determining the distribution, movements, and habitat use of animals is essential for understanding their ecology and developing effective conservation measures. However, studying animals that migrate thousands of kilometers and inhabit remote and inaccessible areas is extremely difficult, especially in the marine environment. Satellite telemetry has provided a solution for studying marine mammal species, such as large whales, and its improvement is crucial to enhancing our understanding of the habitat use patterns of these animals. The humpback whale is one of the most extensively studied species among cetaceans, making it an excellent representative for deepening our understanding of the spatial ecology of this infraorder. This thesis aimed to investigate the habitat use and movement behavior of humpback whales from the A breeding stock in their breeding and nursing area, as well as their feeding area, using a large set of satellite telemetry data collected between 2003 and 2019 off the coast of Brazil. Additionally, through a systematic review and meta-analysis, we explored data from published and unpublished studies of whales marked with implantable satellite transmitters to verify which factors influence the longevity of the transmitters and provide an overview of the technique's use in mysticetes. In the breeding area, the results revealed important regions where animals aggregate along the Brazilian coast, exhibiting mating and nursing behaviors. Habitat use models showed the influence of spatial location and environmental cycles on the behavior of humpback whales. In the feeding region, a temporal dynamic and spatial aggregation of feeding behaviors were evident, revealing important feeding areas and different foraging strategies. Females and males used distinct areas to forage. The metaanalysis revealed that satellite transmitters implanted in whale species have an average duration of 52 days. Biological factors such as family, species, and sex, as well as technical factors such as the area where the animals were marked and the method used for transmitter implantation, have an influence on the longevity of the equipment and are mostly related to the behavioral aspects of the animals. The findings of this thesis improve our understanding of whales and their movement ecology in breeding and feeding areas, and highlight the importance of using biotelemetry in the study of these large predators, providing evidence that assists in the improvement of the technique to advance the ecological research of marine animals