A multi-method approach across ocean basins challenges fin whale classic migratory assumptions off South America

@article{bedrinanaromano2026multimethod,
  title = {{A multi-method approach across ocean basins challenges fin whale classic migratory assumptions off South America}},
  author = {Luis Bedriñana-Romano and Rodrigo Hucke-Gaete and Susannah J. Buchan and Maritza Sepúlveda and Carlos Olavarría and Diego Filún and Natalia Dellabianca and Juliana Couto Di Tullio and Miguel A. Iñiguez-Bessega and Leonardo Wedekin and Patricia M. Zarate and Sofía F. Álvarez-Abarzúa and Robert Bello and Ilia Cari and Victor Castillo and Ljubitza Clavijo-Gorostiaga and Marta Jussara Cremer and Barbara Galletti-Vernazzani and Sidney Gomes and Alicia I. Guerrero and Laura Gutiérrez and Nicolás Muñoz and Renan Lopes Paitach and María José Pérez-Álvarez and M. Vanesa Reyes Reyes and Constanza Rojas-Cerda and Macarena Santos-Carvallo and Eduardo R. Secchi and William Soares-Filho and Kathleen M. Stafford and M. Belén Tartaglia Gamarra and Mónica A. Torres and Maximiliano Vega and Francisco A. Viddi and Alexandre N. Zerbini and Eliana Zuazquita},
  journal = {Scientific Reports},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-63375-5},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-63375-5},
  note = {CC BY},
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - A multi-method approach across ocean basins challenges fin whale classic migratory assumptions off South America
AU  - Luis Bedriñana-Romano
AU  - Rodrigo Hucke-Gaete
AU  - Susannah J. Buchan
AU  - Maritza Sepúlveda
AU  - Carlos Olavarría
AU  - Diego Filún
AU  - Natalia Dellabianca
AU  - Juliana Couto Di Tullio
AU  - Miguel A. Iñiguez-Bessega
AU  - Leonardo Wedekin
AU  - Patricia M. Zarate
AU  - Sofía F. Álvarez-Abarzúa
AU  - Robert Bello
AU  - Ilia Cari
AU  - Victor Castillo
AU  - Ljubitza Clavijo-Gorostiaga
AU  - Marta Jussara Cremer
AU  - Barbara Galletti-Vernazzani
AU  - Sidney Gomes
AU  - Alicia I. Guerrero
AU  - Laura Gutiérrez
AU  - Nicolás Muñoz
AU  - Renan Lopes Paitach
AU  - María José Pérez-Álvarez
AU  - M. Vanesa Reyes Reyes
AU  - Constanza Rojas-Cerda
AU  - Macarena Santos-Carvallo
AU  - Eduardo R. Secchi
AU  - William Soares-Filho
AU  - Kathleen M. Stafford
AU  - M. Belén Tartaglia Gamarra
AU  - Mónica A. Torres
AU  - Maximiliano Vega
AU  - Francisco A. Viddi
AU  - Alexandre N. Zerbini
AU  - Eliana Zuazquita
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/01
JO  - Scientific Reports
DO  - 10.1038/s41598-026-63375-5
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-63375-5
AB  - Baleen whale classical pattern of summering in high latitude and wintering in low latitude has been framed within a continuum of migratory schemes. Here, we aim to understand fin whale distribution and migratory patterns off South America by summarizing dedicated visual surveys, passive acoustic monitoring, and telemetry data from Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. Our results agree with findings from other fin whale populations and whaling records from South America, supporting the existence of multiple migratory schemes including year-round residency and classic migration. An unprecedented case of a “seasonally inverted migration”, with an individual summering in low-mid latitudes and wintering in high latitudes is presented as the first description of a fin whale round trip migratory route in the Southern Hemisphere. Our results reinforce the notion that baleen whale migratory movements are more diverse than previously thought and highlight the relevance of international cooperation for the study and conservation of migratory species.
SN  - 2045-2322
ER  -