Ecology of Megaptera novaeangliae
 
Main Ref. Jefferson, T.A., S. Leatherwood and M.A. Webber, 1993
Remarks Feeds and breeds in coastal waters, often near human population centres, and this helps make them one of the most familiar of the large whales. They migrate from tropics (breeding areas) to polar or sub-polar regions, reaching the ice edges in both hemispheres (feeding areas); their migrations take them through oceanic zones (Ref. 1394). They pefer warm shallow waters to breed, usually near offshore reefs, islands, or continental shores. Feeding grounds are characterized by cold, productive, shallow waters (Ref. 122680). Feeds on krill and small schooling fish (Ref. 1394). According to a study in the Philippines, Babuyan Islands (121°36’00", 19°18’00) was verified as a breeding ground for this species, and humpback whale songs were recorded during this season. Social groups observed were lone adult, mother-calf pairs, two adults, mother-calf-escort, and a surface active mating group of 3 to 4 individuals (Ref. 77119).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Megaptera novaeangliae may be found.

Habitat

Substrate Pelagic;
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref. Jefferson, T.A., S. Leatherwood and M.A. Webber, 1993
Associations schooling;
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref. Jefferson, T.A., S. Leatherwood and M.A. Webber, 1993
Feeding habit hunting macrofauna (predator)
Feeding habit Ref. Jefferson, T.A., S. Leatherwood and M.A. Webber, 1993

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method original sample unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition 3.60
From individual food items 4.19 0.75 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref. Pauly, D., A.W. Trites, E. Capuli and V. Christensen, 1998
Ref. [ e.g. 3742]
Glossary [ e.g. cnidaria]
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