Arctic GIS Workshop Poster Abstract

22-24 January 2001
Bell Harbor International Conference Center
Seattle, Washington

Visualizing Cetacean Habitats Offshore Northern Alaska

Sue Moore and Jeremy Davies
NOAA/NMFS/AFSC/National Marine Mammal Laboratory

Differences in cetacean habitats offshore northern Alaska have been described, based upon analyses of 10-years of aerial survey sighting data (Moore et al., 2000). One of the strongest differences described was that of bathymetric habitat selection by bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) and white whales (Delphinapterus leucas). In brief, filter feeding bowheads select the comparatively shallow waters of the continental shelf, while piscivorous white whales (also called belugas or belukhas) select continental slope waters. Although these differences can be clearly defined statistically, the power of a 3D display to illustrate the distribution of the two species in relation to bathymetry off the north shore of Alaska is striking (Figure 1). A further refinement to the depiction of bathymetric habitat separation is provided by a display of 75% fixed kernels around the distribution plots for each species (Figure 2). These figures provide dramatic portrayals of cetacean distribution, which invites collaboration with physical oceanographers and other marine biologists to further explore the habitat parameters important to Arctic cetaceans.