Figure 91 is a composite of 21 - 22 September and shows PTT #823 moving along 

 the eastern edge of a warm core ring -where cooler, nutrient-rich shelf water was being 

 entrained around the ring. This feature, associated with warm core rings, is visible at the 

 surface as a narrowing funnel of colder water and is a potential mechanism for concentrating 

 prey. The occurrence of rings in this area is reasonably common (Wiebe, 1982) but it is not 

 known if this whale knew of this phenomenon through previous experience or just happened 

 upon it. PTT #823 continued south to the north wall of the Gulf Stream where prey are 

 often concentrated. The whale then moved north. By 16 October (Figure 92), PTT #823 

 moved to an upwelling area off the southern tip of Nova Scotia (immediately north of 

 Brown's Bank). The whale spent 10 days here. 



The overlap of tracks for PTT #843, PTT #840 and PTT #823 through the basins 

 and banks south and east of Nova Scotia (Brown's, Baccaro and Emerald) suggest that these 

 are extremely important areas. We observed numerous SAGs during our visit to these areas. 

 The presence of a pregnant female (PTT #840) in these areas suggests the region is used 

 for more than reproductive activity (SAGs). These areas are also along the 200 m contour 

 where previous studies (CeTAP, 1982; Mate, et al.,in prep.) have observed right whales 

 feeding. Studies off Nova Scotia by C. Miller (pers. comm.) show that the concentrations 

 of copepods in this region move from the banks into the deeper basin waters from 

 September through February. This feature of copepod concentration may constitute an 

 important resource for right whales in the fall and winter. 



CONCLUSIONS 



Satellite telemetry is a highly effective method of tracking right whales even for 

 relatively short periods of time. These studies resulted in the complete re-evaluation of 

 previous hypotheses regarding range, residency time, speeds of travel, dive depths, and 

 surface resting. 



Movements and Distribution 



Right whales were previously reputed to be slow moving, nearshore animals. Based 

 on our data, we have determined that right whales can travel long distances (3,833 km) over 

 short periods of time (43 days) and can travel up to 500 km from shore into deep 

 (4000 -I- km) water. The fast movement of two males between all known (BOF and Scotian 

 ShelO breeding areas suggests the Northwest Atlantic population may be a single stock. The 

 movements of a pregnant female through the same areas also suggests these areas may also 

 be important to feeding. The long distance coastal movement of a female and calf surprised 

 us. It is not known whether the female traveled to look for food, train the calf in how and 

 where to find food, or both. 



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