Whale Migration and Biodiversity in Svalbard

I. Humpback Whale Observation with Emily Cunningham and Dr Daniel Moore.

Global humpback whale populations were decimated by industrial whaling, leading to the enforcement of a global ban for all whales in 1986. Over recent years, populations have begun to restore, causing sightings to become more frequent. In 2018, the first UK humpback whale observation for over a century was recorded near Edinburgh, Scotland. Keen to understand where this whale originated from, Cunningham and Moore collaborated with local community groups to collect whale fluke (tail) images to
assess the species distribution in the region. As these fluke patterns are unique, Cunningham and Moore were able to non-invasively track this individual, named VYking, to uncover that it originated from Svalbard, rather than traditionally known Icelandic feeding grounds. This discovery suggests that this Arctic habitat is favored by UK humpback whales – a previously unknown connection. Cunningham and
Moore published this research in a paper in 2019, titled Sudden seasonal occurrence of humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae in the Firth of Forth, Scotland, and first confirmed movement between high latitude feeding grounds and United Kingdom waters (linked here). Although this was a significant discovery, little is known about the extent of this connection, as high-quality photographic resources are limited.

II. Environmental DNA Analysis with Dr. Maria Saggiomo and Dr. Roberta Piredda

The Arctic is at the forefront of climate change, warming at a rate three times faster than any other region on Earth due to Arctic Amplification. This rapid rate of environmental change is significantly impacting the region’s ecosystems, both on land and at sea, for example by reducing the availability of suitable habitats for feeding and hunting, forcing species to rapidly adapt in order to survive. Throughout the global oceans, whales are key indicators of ocean health, as they are sensitive to environmental change and play a vital role in the marine food web. As such, their presence, behaviors and organismal health clearly depict the state of the ecosystem and surrounding marine environment. In particular, fin whales annually undertake large-scale migrations from southern equatorial waters to their favored Arctic feeding grounds in Svalbard. However, in recent years, the timing of their journeys has shifted. Researchers are therefore keen to better understand the factors influencing this shift, and how these marine mammal sentinels are responding to climate change, to ensure their continued use as effective ocean health indicators.