Author:
Cheeseman Ted,Southerland Ken,Acebes Jo Marie,Audley Katherina,Barlow Jay,Bejder Lars,Birdsall Caitlin,Bradford Amanda L.,Byington Josie K.,Calambokidis John,Cartwright Rachel,Cedarleaf Jen,Chavez Andrea Jacqueline García,Currie Jens J.,De Weerdt Joëlle,Doe Nicole,Doniol-Valcroze Thomas,Dracott Karina,Filatova Olga,Finn Rachel,Flynn Kiirsten,Ford John K. B.,Frisch-Jordán Astrid,Gabriele Christine M.,Goodwin Beth,Hayslip Craig,Hildering Jackie,Hill Marie C.,Jacobsen Jeff K.,Jiménez-López M. Esther,Jones Meagan,Kobayashi Nozomi,Lyman Edward,Malleson Mark,Mamaev Evgeny,Martínez Loustalot Pamela,Masterman Annie,Matkin Craig,McMillan Christie J.,Moore Jeff E.,Moran John R.,Neilson Janet L.,Newell Hayley,Okabe Haruna,Olio Marilia,Pack Adam A.,Palacios Daniel M.,Pearson Heidi C.,Quintana-Rizzo Ester,Ramírez Barragán Raul Fernando,Ransome Nicola,Rosales-Nanduca Hiram,Sharpe Fred,Shaw Tasli,Stack Stephanie H.,Staniland Iain,Straley Jan,Szabo Andrew,Teerlink Suzie,Titova Olga,Urban R. Jorge,van Aswegen Martin,de Morais Marcel Vinicius,von Ziegesar Olga,Witteveen Briana,Wray Janie,Yano Kymberly M.,Zwiefelhofer Denny,Clapham Phil
Abstract
AbstractWe present an ocean-basin-scale dataset that includes tail fluke photographic identification (photo-ID) and encounter data for most living individual humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the North Pacific Ocean. The dataset was built through a broad collaboration combining 39 separate curated photo-ID catalogs, supplemented with community science data. Data from throughout the North Pacific were aggregated into 13 regions, including six breeding regions, six feeding regions, and one migratory corridor. All images were compared with minimal pre-processing using a recently developed image recognition algorithm based on machine learning through artificial intelligence; this system is capable of rapidly detecting matches between individuals with an estimated 97–99% accuracy. For the 2001–2021 study period, a total of 27,956 unique individuals were documented in 157,350 encounters. Each individual was encountered, on average, in 5.6 sampling periods (i.e., breeding and feeding seasons), with an annual average of 87% of whales encountered in more than one season. The combined dataset and image recognition tool represents a living and accessible resource for collaborative, basin-wide studies of a keystone marine mammal in a time of rapid ecological change.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC