Abstract
North Atlantic right whale reproduction was assessed for the period 1980 through 1998. At the end of this period, we estimated there werebetween 299 and 437 right whales alive, including 70 mature females. Using maximum and minimum population estimates for the entireperiod, mean values for gross annual reproductive rate were 0.36 and 0.49 respectively, and the mean value for calves per mature femaleper year was 0.25. There is a significant decreasing trend in calves per mature female per year over the entire study period. The mean ageat first calving is 9.53 years. The mean number of cows recruited annually since 1985 is 3.8. Mean annual calving intervals have increasedsignificantly during the study period from 3.67 years (1980-1992) to over 5 years (1993-1998). Although the North Atlantic population isaffected by significant anthropogenic mortality, diminishing reproductive rates are probably also responsible for the plight of thisspecies.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
