Distribution and Abundance of Belugas, Delphinapterus leucas, and Narwhals, Monodon monoceros, in the Canadian High Arctic
- 1 April 1985
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Canadian Science Publishing in Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
- Vol. 42 (4) , 676-684
- https://doi.org/10.1139/f85-087
Abstract
Opportunistic reconnaissance aerial surveys of Lancaster Sound, Barrow Strait, Peel Sound, and Prince Regent Inlet were conducted between 1974 and 1982 to determine the distribution and abundance of belugas, D. leucas, and narwhals, M. monoceros. In 1981, 2 stratified strip-transect surveys were flown. From these we estimate that a total of 6300-18,600 belugas and approximately 13,200-18,000 narwhals summer in Lancaster Sound and adjoining waterways. Improvement in the precision of these estimates would require a substantial increase in survey coverage and may not be justified considering the significant increase in costs. Review of the results of surveys conducted since 1975 in the same study area shows much duplication of effort, little increase in information, and a lack of confidence limits for the estimated numbers.This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit:
- Distribution and Abundance of Seals in the Eastern Beaufort SeaJournal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 1977
- Identity, Abundance, and Present Status of Populations of White Whales, Delphinapterus leucas, in North AmericaJournal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 1975
- The Narwhal, Monodon monoceros, in Eastern Canadian WatersJournal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 1975
- Bias in Aerial SurveyThe Journal of Wildlife Management, 1974