526 southern right whales were sighted during an aerial survey from Perth to Ceduna between August 12 and 19, 2022, including 247 cow-calf pairs. The survey was conducted by the Australian Ocean Data Network to monitor the recovery of this endangered species following historical whaling. It contributes to a long-term annual series begun in 1993, showing a population increase of ~5.3% per year but a notable recent decline in unaccompanied animals.
Use Cases
- Modeling population growth trends based on the reported annual increase of ~5.3%.
- Analyzing changes in whale group composition based on counts of cow-calf pairs and unaccompanied adults.
- Assessing spatial distribution of sightings along the southern Australian coast from Perth to Ceduna.
- Investigating potential environmental factors influencing the reported decline in unaccompanied animal sightings over the past five years.
Strengths
- Includes specific counts for 526 total whales, 247 cow-calf pairs, 31 unaccompanied adults, and 1 yearling.
- Part of a long-term annual survey time series that began in 1993, providing historical context.
- Provides a population growth rate estimate of ~5.3% per year and a population estimate of 2675 whales.
Limitations
- Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
- Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
- Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to the specific aerial survey transect.
Provenance
- Source
- Australian Ocean Data Network
- Collection Method
- Aerial surveys undertaken in coastal waters.
- Time Range
- Survey conducted August 12-19, 2022; time series began in 1993.
- Freshness
- Last updated 2026-07-10 01:43:38.255136; freshness should be verified.
- Geography
- Coastal waters from Perth, Western Australia to Ceduna, South Australia.