Blue Whale Area-Restricted Search Trajectories from Eastern Canada

Satellite telemetry data from 2002 and 2010-2015 tracks the seasonal movements of 24 blue whales from eastern Canada. The dataset provides estimated trajectories and inferred area-restricted search (ARS) behavior locations at 4-hour intervals, derived from a Bayesian switching state-space model applied to Argos data.

Use Cases

• Model seasonal movement patterns and habitat use of blue whales using the 4-hour interval trajectory data.
• Identify potential foraging sites by analyzing inferred area-restricted search (ARS) behavior locations.
• Assess model performance in correcting Argos location errors by examining points erroneously placed on land.
• Analyze movement parameters and behavioral state transitions estimated by the Bayesian switching state-space model (SSSM).

Strengths

• Data is derived from a multi-year study tracking 24 individual blue whales.
• Locations and behavioral states are estimated at a high temporal resolution of 4-hour intervals.
• Methodology applies a peer-reviewed Bayesian switching state-space model to account for observation and process uncertainty.

Limitations

• Sample size is limited to 24 animals, which may not represent the full population.
• Contains known Argos geolocation errors, with some points incorrectly placed on land.
• Temporal coverage is discontinuous, with data from 2002 and 2010-2015.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Collection Method

Satellite telemetry (Argos) analyzed with a Bayesian switching state-space model (SSSM).

Time Range

2002 and 2010 to 2015.

Freshness

Data collection ended in 2015; the dataset was last updated in March 2026.

Geography

Northwest Atlantic, focusing on blue whales from eastern Canada.