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Peer-reviewedCC BYProceedings. Biological sciences

Multiple strategies and cues define baleen whale migration.

  • Leena Riekkola1
  • Xuelei Zhang1
  • Alice Della Penna1,2
  • Virginia L Andrews-Goff3
  • Gabriela Duran1
  • Rochelle L Constantine1,2
  • Simon Childerhouse4
  • Fredrik Christiansen5
  • Rosalind Cole6
  • Kim Goetz7
  • Robert Harcourt8
  • David Lundquist6
5 more authors
  • Catherine E Meyer1
  • Mike Ogle6
  • Esther Stuck1
  • Alexandre N Zerbini7,9,10,11,12
  • Emma L Carroll1
12 affiliations
  1. 1School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland , Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
  2. 2Institute of Marine Science, The University of Auckland , Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
  3. 3Australian Marine Mammal Centre, Australian Antarctic Division , Kingston, Tasmania 7050, Australia.
  4. 4Blue Planet Marine , Nelson 7050, New Zealand.
  5. 5Marine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus Universitet , 4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
  6. 6New Zealand Department of Conservation , Wellington, 6011, New Zealand.
  7. 7Marine Mammal Laboratory, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center , Seattle, WA 98115, USA.
  8. 8School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University , Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia.
  9. 9Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean & Ecosystem Studies, University of Washington , Seattle, WA, USA.
  10. 10Marine Ecology and Telemetry Research , Seabeck, WA, USA.
  11. 11Instituto Aqualie, Juiz de Fora , MG, Brazil.
  12. 12Whale Unit, Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria , South Africa.
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Abstract

Migration is a do-or-die life-history strategy, yet factors shaping it remain poorly studied in many marine taxa, as direct observations are difficult. Building on animal migration theory, we used satellite tracking data from 21 southern right whales tagged in Aotearoa New Zealand to investigate migratory cues, timing and routes. Whales followed either a direct westward route or a longer, indirect route via higher latitudes when migrating from their wintering grounds to summer feeding grounds. Departure timing from wintering grounds was the only significant predictor of route choice, independent of sex, age class, body length or condition. Early-departing whales were more likely to follow the longer route, taking more days to migrate, yet they arrived at shared feeding grounds at similar times to whales using the direct route. These contrasting behaviours are hypothesized to reflect trade-offs between time- and energy-minimization strategies. During migration, whales may use multiple external cues to navigate, including gradients associated with ocean currents, bathymetry and magnetic inclination. The availability of two distinct migratory routes, combined with individual flexibility in route choice, may enhance population resilience in a changing ocean.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{riekkola2026multiple,
  title = {{Multiple strategies and cues define baleen whale migration.}},
  author = {Leena Riekkola and Xuelei Zhang and Alice Della Penna and Virginia L Andrews-Goff and Gabriela Duran and Rochelle L Constantine and Simon Childerhouse and Fredrik Christiansen and Rosalind Cole and Kim Goetz and Robert Harcourt and David Lundquist and Catherine E Meyer and Mike Ogle and Esther Stuck and Alexandre N Zerbini and Emma L Carroll},
  journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1098/rspb.2026.0029},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42869486},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Multiple strategies and cues define baleen whale migration.
AU  - Leena Riekkola
AU  - Xuelei Zhang
AU  - Alice Della Penna
AU  - Virginia L Andrews-Goff
AU  - Gabriela Duran
AU  - Rochelle L Constantine
AU  - Simon Childerhouse
AU  - Fredrik Christiansen
AU  - Rosalind Cole
AU  - Kim Goetz
AU  - Robert Harcourt
AU  - David Lundquist
AU  - Catherine E Meyer
AU  - Mike Ogle
AU  - Esther Stuck
AU  - Alexandre N Zerbini
AU  - Emma L Carroll
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
JO  - Proceedings. Biological sciences
DO  - 10.1098/rspb.2026.0029
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42869486
AB  - Migration is a do-or-die life-history strategy, yet factors shaping it remain poorly studied in many marine taxa, as direct observations are difficult. Building on animal migration theory, we used satellite tracking data from 21 southern right whales tagged in Aotearoa New Zealand to investigate migratory cues, timing and routes. Whales followed either a direct westward route or a longer, indirect route via higher latitudes when migrating from their wintering grounds to summer feeding grounds. Departure timing from wintering grounds was the only significant predictor of route choice, independent of sex, age class, body length or condition. Early-departing whales were more likely to follow the longer route, taking more days to migrate, yet they arrived at shared feeding grounds at similar times to whales using the direct route. These contrasting behaviours are hypothesized to reflect trade-offs between time- and energy-minimization strategies. During migration, whales may use multiple external cues to navigate, including gradients associated with ocean currents, bathymetry and magnetic inclination. The availability of two distinct migratory routes, combined with individual flexibility in route choice, may enhance population resilience in a changing ocean.
SN  - 0962-8452
SN  - 1471-2954
ER  -