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Reproductive natural history of endangered Cook Inlet Beluga whales: insights from a long-term photo-identification study

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Abstract

Beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) occur broadly throughout the polar and subpolar regions of the Northern Hemisphere, and as a whole, the species is of low conservation concern. However, some populations, including Alaska’s Cook Inlet beluga whales (CIBW), are in decline for reasons that remain poorly understood. Currently, information on population-specific reproductive parameters of CIBW is non-existent. To address this data gap, we examined long-term photo-identification data of CIBW for insight into the reproductive natural history of this endangered subarctic population. Data are from 438 photo-ID surveys conducted 2005–2017 and over 400 identified individuals, augmented with data from strandings, biopsies, and tagging. During the April–October ice-free field season, we observed neonates July–October but never April-June. We photo-documented three suspected births during July–September. Neonates were present in 30% of groups and encountered and comprised 2% of all belugas observed. Over the course of the 13-year study, the number of calves seen with an individual mother ranged from 1 to 5, with inter-birth intervals ranging from 2 to 13 years. This corresponds to rates of 0.08–0.38 calves per year per mother. Known-aged mothers ranged in age from 13 to 31 years. Skin color was not a reliable indicator of sexual maturity. Calves photographed alongside their mothers were estimated to be 1–8 years old, although most were 1–4 years old. Some mothers (6%) were accompanied by a neonate and an older calf. These summaries of observational data provide critical insight into CIBW reproductive natural history that will inform future population modeling and management decision-making.

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Acknowledgements

This manuscript was developed through Species Recovery Grant NOAA-NMFS-PRPO-2017-2004972 to the Knik Tribe. The authors are grateful to the Knik Tribe for its foresight and perseverance in promoting the dissemination of results from this long-term study. The CIBW Photo-ID Project represents work conducted by numerous people with the support of several organizations, all of whom are sincerely thanked. Project Skippers: Henry Hershberger, Brad Goetz, Dave McKay, Gary Kernan, Geoffrey Hershberger, Bob Cellers, Page Herring, and Nathan McKay, Jr. Financial Support for Research: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc., North Pacific Research Board, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Kenai Peninsula Borough, LGL Alaska Research Associates, Inc., Chevron, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, and National Marine Fisheries Service (Alaska Region and Marine Mammal Laboratory). Research Coordination: NMFS Alaska Region, NMFS Office of Protected Resources, NMFS Office of Law Enforcement, NMFS Marine Mammal Laboratory, NMFS Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Department of Defense (JBER, Rich Graham, Christie Osburn, and observers), Marine Mammal Commission (esp. Tim Ragen), and Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals (GREMM). Database Development: Axiom Consulting and Design. A list of frequent contributors of sightings and photographs, as well as former project colleagues, can be found in McGuire and Stephens (2017), www.cookinletbelugas.com. Biological samples from strandings, tagging and biopsies were collected under NMFS permits #932-1905/MA-009526 (stranding), #957 and 782-1438 (Amendment 3; satellite tagging), #14245-04 (biopsy). The samples were analyzed by Nick Kellar (hormones from 2016 biopsy), Greg O’Corry Crowe (genetics from 1999-2002 satellite tagging), Gina Ylitalo (contaminants from biopsy during satellite tagging), Dan Vos (tooth aging), and Kathy Burek Huntington and Carrie Goertz (necropsies). Thanks to Randy Reeves, Heather Smith, an anonymous reviewer, and Molly DeMatteo for their comments and suggestions on the manuscript. We are grateful to the Alaska Native hunters who reported and shared samples with NMFS. Photos of the calf “Tyonek” were shared with us by the Alaska SeaLife Center, and were taken under MMHSRP Permit #18786 to T. Rowles. CIBW photo-ID surveys were conducted under General Authorization, Letter of Confirmation No. 481-1759, and NMFS Scientific Research Permits #14210 and #18016. All CIBW Photo-ID Project reports cited in this paper as T. McGuire (unpublished data) are publicly available at www.cookinletbelugas.org.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Photo-ID Project, Anchorage, AK, 99515, USA

    Tamara L. McGuire, Amber D. Stephens & John R. McClung

  2. 673d CES/CEIEC, Conservation Dept., Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Anchorage, AK, 99506, USA

    Christopher D. Garner

  3. Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, NOAA, Seattle, WA, 98115, USA

    Kim E. W. Shelden

  4. Ecology Department, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA

    Gina K. Himes Boor

  5. Knik Tribe, Wasilla, AK, 99654, USA

    Bruce Wright

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  1. Tamara L. McGuire
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  2. Amber D. Stephens
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Correspondence to Tamara L. McGuire.

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McGuire, T.L., Stephens, A.D., McClung, J.R. et al. Reproductive natural history of endangered Cook Inlet Beluga whales: insights from a long-term photo-identification study. Polar Biol 43, 1851–1871 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-020-02750-y

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