Niche division between two sympatric deep diving odontocete species

• Project/Area Number: 24370012
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Ecology/Environment
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University
• Principal Investigator: AMANO Masao 長崎大学, 水産・環境科学総合研究科(水産), 教授 (50270905)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): SATO Katsufumi 東京大学, 大気海洋研究所, 教授 (50300695) ; MINAMIKAWA Shingo 独立行政法人水産総合研究センター, 国際水産資源研究所, 研究員 (90392919)
• Research Collaborator: AOKI Kagari 日本学術振興会, 海外特別研究員
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2014)
• Budget Amount: ¥12,610,000 (Direct Cost: ¥9,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥2,910,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥2,470,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥570,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥3,120,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥720,000); Fiscal Year 2012: ¥7,020,000 (Direct Cost: ¥5,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,620,000)
• Keywords: 種間関係 / ハクジラ類 / 生息地利用 / 採餌戦略 / 潜水行動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is hypothesized that deep diving sperm whales and ziphiid whales can coexist by utilizing mesopelagic environment differently. We test this hypothesis by examining habitat use of sperm and Baird’s beaked whales in the Nemuro Strait, Hokkaido, where the two species are distributed sympatrically. The both species occurred in the middle part of the strait, but distribution and its diel movement pattern was different. Data loggers attached to sperm whales revealed that sperm whales followed simple routine to search prey in the Strait. These results indicate that habitat use pattern is different between these two species.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Visual and behavioral evidence indicates active hunting by sperm whales. (2015)
  • Author(s): Aoki, M., Amano, M., Kubodera, T., Mori, K., Okamoto, R., Sato, K.
  • Journal Title: Marine Ecology Progress Series Volume: 523 Pages: 233-241
  • DOI: 10.3354/meps11141
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Differences in sperm whale codas between two waters off Japan: possible geographic separation of vocal clans. (2014)
  • Author(s): Amano, M., Kourogi, A., Aoki, K., Yoshioka, M. and Mori, K.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Mammalogy Volume: 95 Issue: 1 Pages: 169-175
  • DOI: 10.1644/13-mamm-a-172
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Life history and group composition of melon-headed whales based on mass strandings in Japan. (2014)
  • Author(s): Amano, M., T. K. Yamada, T. Kuramochi, A. Hayano, K. Arai, T. Sakai
  • Journal Title: Marine Mammal Science Volume: 30 Issue: 2 Pages: 480-493
  • DOI: 10.1111/mms.12050
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] 根室海峡に来遊するオスのマッコウクジラの社会構造． (2015)
  • Author(s): 小林駿・天野雅男
  • Organizer: 第62回日本生態学会大会．
  • Place of Presentation: 鹿児島大学（鹿児島県鹿児島市）
  • Year and Date: 2015-03-18 – 2015-03-22
• [Presentation] 画像ロガーで記録されたマッコウクジラの捕獲行動 (2013)
  • Author(s): 青木かがり・天野雅男・森恭一, 他
  • Organizer: 平成25年度水産学会春季大会
  • Place of Presentation: 東京海洋大学
  • Year and Date: 2013-03-29
• [Presentation] 根室海峡におけるマッコウクジラの3次元的生息地利用パターン． (2013)
  • Author(s): 天野雅男・青木かがり・興梠あや・南川真吾・佐藤克文
  • Organizer: 第29回日本霊長類学会・日本哺乳類学会2013年度合同大会
  • Place of Presentation: 岡山理科大学（岡山県岡山市）
• [Remarks] 根室海峡におけるマッコウクジラ調査
  • URL: http://www7b.biglobe.ne.jp/~masaoamano/Masao_Amanos/Welcome.html
• [Remarks] 長崎大学水産学部海棲哺乳類研究室
  • URL: http://www7b.biglobe.ne.jp/~masaoamano
• [Remarks]
  • URL: http://www7b.big1obe.ne.jp/~masaoamano