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Humpback love - Hawaii News - Honolulu Star-Advertiser
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Humpback love
The whales’ courtship and mating rituals remain a mystery after 35 years of research
By Nina Wu
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jan 18, 2015
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COURTESY WHALE TRUST MAUI
A pair of “dancing” humpback whales and a breaching whale, below, off the coast of Maui.
Latest News/Updates
Perhaps it's the way he courts her with song, or his
displays of strength to impress her with his enormous
size. And when she extends a pectoral fin to almost
touch him, is she flirting?
The intricacies of Hawaiian humpback whale
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courtship and mating remain a mystery, even after
years of study by marine scientists seeking to
understand the endangered species.
"Here in Hawaii, everything is about reproduction,"
said researcher Meagan Jones of Whale Trust Maui,
an international nonprofit. "And so everything we're
studying here is related to reproduction in some way,
which is, of course, critical to their survival. The more
we understand about what is required for successful
reproduction to occur, the more effective we can be
in managing whale populations."
After more than 35 years of research, no scientist
has ever witnessed or documented the mating act between humpback whales in Hawaii or elsewhere.
"Nobody's seen it," said Adam Pack, an assistant professor of biology at the University of Hawaii at
Hilo. "In addition to hoping one might see it, we're still trying to understand the larger dynamics of the
mating system."
Peak whale season in Hawaii takes place between January and March, when an estimated 10,000
whales migrate from Alaska to Hawaii to mate and give birth, generating an estimated $20 million for
the state's whale-­watching industry. The first sighting this season came early, in mid-­September off
west Kauai.
With its warm, clear waters, Hawaii's Humpback
Whale National Marine Sanctuary, centered
mostly around the four islands of Maui County,
is an ideal laboratory for scientific observation
of humpback whales. A core group of about 10
to 12 scientists seek federal and state permits
each year to conduct long-­term research in
sanctuary waters. As of Jan. 13, the state had
issued seven permits, to Whale Trust and the
Pacific Whale Foundation, among others, and
was processing four more for this season.
Research indicates that females, with or without
calves, are almost always accompanied by a
male who is not the father, but scientists aren't
sure why. These male escorts are known to
compete aggressively for a female's attention.
Female humpback whales endure an 11-­month
gestation period and then spend up to a year
raising their offspring. They are understandably
choosy when it comes to picking a mating
partner, according to Pack, preferring males
exhibiting traits most likely to improve the
chances of their calves' survival.
WHERE TO SEE HUMPBACK WHALES
Federal regulations require maintaining a
distance of 100 yards when encountering
whales in or on the water;; aircraft stay 1,000
feet away. To report entangled or distressed
whales, call NOAA Fisheries’ hotline at 888-­
256-­9840.
50 years Approximate lifespan Source: NOAA
Up to 60 feet Length of an adult
25 to 40 tons Weight of an adult humpback whale
2,000 pounds Weight of newborn calf
"They really want to pair with the largest adult males," he said.
The males, who split after the deed is done, can be discriminating about size as well, Pack said, but not
as much.
Whale researchers have determined that only male humpbacks sing, but are still uncertain whether the
behavior plays a role in mating or attracting females.
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Pioneering whale researcher Louis Herman, along with Pack and their research team from The Dolphin
Institute, in 2013 published a paper concluding that both juvenile and sexually mature males sing while
in the Hawaiian breeding grounds.
Like
11k
"Apparently, it's a lifetime occupation," said Herman, professor emeritus at the University of Hawaii.
"Each year we record songs but don't necessarily see the same singers every year. However, we've
recorded some individuals singing over intervals of 20 to 30 years, though we don't know what's
happening with them in between those years."
The juveniles could be joining in to be part of the group, but more likely they're learning and practicing
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Humpback love - Hawaii News - Honolulu Star-Advertiser
skills that will give them mating success in later years, Herman said.
This year, the team will for the first time collaborate with researcher Shannon Atkinson in Alaska, using
body size data and small skin biopsy samples to understand exactly when females become receptive
to suitors during their journey south to Hawaii. The samples are obtained by firing a small dart at the
side of the whale to extract about a half-­centimeter of skin and blubber. The dart bounces off and floats
in the water until recovered by the team.
When Herman first began studying whales in 1976, his team was the first to use aerial and boat-­based
surveys.
Today, digital video, remote acoustic technology and unmanned ocean robots have opened new doors
for scientists, allowing them, for instance, to measure the body size of humpback whales using a
technique called videogrammetry.
Researchers in mask, snorkel and fins ease into the water, carrying a digital video camera in an
underwater housing and a hand-­held sonar device. Later, they can determine the whale's length based
on the images taken at a specific angle and distance measured by sonar.
Most of the focus is on what happens below the surface, where whales spend 90 percent of their time.
In 2005, Herman partnered with National Geographic to install Crittercams on whales to observe their
behavior underwater. Researchers' latest methods include using tags, attached to the whales with
suction cups, that provide video, audio and other data such as depth, speed and movements below the
surface.
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Jessica Chen, a student working for the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, will use the tags this
season, along with underwater microphones to examine how mothers and calves communicate with
each another.
Bruce Mate, a pioneer in satellite telemetry (using miniature radio tags), will join researchers this year
with a new project following the whales' migration routes to Hawaiian waters.
Every new discovery yields another piece of the puzzle of humpback whale mating.
Jones of Whale Trust Maui, with principal investigator Jim Darling and photographer Flip Nicklin, once
witnessed what looked like a dance of courtship among a whale pair, only to find out that both were
males.
While females without calves are coveted by males because they are more likely to be open to mating,
females with calves also attract escorts who accompany them, perhaps looking to be ready for the next
mating opportunity.
"It's been a bit of a conundrum to figure out why they (female whales) would be hanging out with other
males," Jones said. "Everyone kind of agrees males are associating in hopes they get to mate with her.
How often she does that is a whole different question."
But females with calves are not as interested, according to Jones' most recent study, which will soon
be published. When playing back sounds of male whales in the breeding grounds, females with calves
tended to travel quickly in the opposite direction.
The team monitored the mothers' speed of travel and movement patterns and is exploring when the
animal would be most receptive to advances based on her reproductive status.
They also will continue to focus on the role of whale songs in mating. The presumed courting song is
evolving, according to researchers. The team is comparing songs in Hawaii with those in the
Philippines, Japan and Mexico.
Perhaps, one day, someone will witness the whales in the act of breeding.
"I think it's gotta be a stroke of luck," Herman said. "You have to be there, wherever and whenever
they're mating. We don't know where it occurs beyond somewhere in the wintering grounds, and it may
be brief. They may mate in remote locations, or perhaps deep underwater, or even during migration to
or from the winter grounds. We just don't know."
WHALE EVENTS
>> Run & Walk for the Whales. Join the Pacific Whale Foundation for its annual
Run & Walk for the Whales, Jan. 31 at Ma‘alaea Harbor Shops, Maui. Events
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include a half marathon, 5K and 10K runs, and 2.5-­mile walk. Entry fee $30 to $65
(before Jan. 29). All proceeds support the foundation. Call 249-­8811, ext. 1 or
register at flpregister.com/101. >> Whale Sanctuary Ocean Count. Held from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Jan. 31, Feb.
28 and March 28. Volunteers are needed to count humpback whales and record
behaviors in the waters off Oahu, Kauai and Hawaii island. A list of Oahu sites is
available at goo.gl/HIQvGs. Call 725-­5923 or visit goo.gl/Cmz7. >> World Whale Day. Pacific Whale Foundation hosts an all-­day celebration on
Maui of humpback whales starting at 9 a.m. Feb. 14 with Parade of Whales down
South Kihei Road to Kalama Park. Includes entertainment, hula, whale-­themed
attractions and keiki carnival. Admission is free. Call 249-­8811, ext. 1 or visit
www.mauiwhalefestival.org. >> Trail of the Whale: Maui whale-­watchers will find Pacific Whale Foundation
naturalists sharing information at four stations along the coast. Get stamps at each
station and bring the completed Trail of the Whale certificate to the foundation’s
Ocean Store, 612 Front St. in Lahaina, or at Ma‘alaea Harbor Shops to receive a
prize. Visit www.pacificwhale.org. >> Whale Tales 2015. Whale Trust Maui hosts top international whale researchers
for talks about critical issues in whale research, Feb. 13-­16. Speakers include
Bruce Mate, a pioneer in satellite tagging of whales and migration patterns;; Ken
Balcomb, an authority on underwater sonar testing impacts on whales;; and Marc
Lammers, who uses remote acoustic technology to monitor and track cetacean
populations in Hawaii and around the globe. Other events include National
Geographic contributing photographer Flip Nicklin and underwater
cinematographer Jason Sturgis presenting some of their favorite underwater
footage, whale-­watch excursions, and a behind-­the-­scenes preview of the new
IMAX movie “Humpback Whales 3D.” Proceeds support whale research on Maui.
For information, call 572-­5700 or visit WhaleTrust.org.
M OR E FR OM TH E S TA R -­ A D VER TISER
World of whales surfaces at sanctuary site
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