Browsing by Author "Mori, M"

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    Consideration of multi-species interactions in the Antarctic—An initial model of the minke whale–blue whale–krill interaction
    (National Inquiry Services Centre, 2004) Mori, M; Butterworth, Doug S
    As a first step in investigating the major predator–prey interactions in the Antarctic, a model describing blue whales Balaenoptera musculus, minke whales Balaenoptera acutorostrata and krill Euphausia superba is developed. Blue and minke whales feed mainly on krill, and they share a similar feeding area near the Antarctic ice edge. In the early 20th century, the large baleen whales in the Antarctic were heavily harvested, some to near extinction. Blue whales were taken for almost 60 years, before being officially protected in 1964. Harvesting of the smaller minke whales commenced only in the 1970s, and the population probably increased during the mid 20th century, likely in response to increased krill abundance following the depletion of the large baleen whales. Recent studies show recoveries of some of these large baleen whale species in response to protection, and also a possible recent decrease in the stock of minke whales as the larger whales recover. This work investigates whether the abundance trends indicated by surveys and other information for these species can be explained by considering only harvesting and the predator–prey interactions between the two whale species and krill. Using historical catch data for blue and minke whales, a simple age-aggregated model including species interactions is fitted to survey abundance estimates. Uncertainties in the abundance estimates and the biological parameters are taken into account in the process by considering plausible ranges for their values. Abundance trends for the species can broadly be replicated by the model, provided the parameter values show certain features, including (i) that blue whales are able to maintain their birth and krill consumption rates until krill abundance drops to relatively low levels, and (ii) that both minke and blue whales show relatively fast rates of growth if krill is abundant, but that minke growth rate falls more rapidly as krill abundance drops. The model suggests two interesting features of the dynamics of these species. First, a substantial decrease in krill biomass from the 1970s to the 1990s as a result of the preceding rapid increase in minke whale abundance, and hence krill consumption, following the depletion of the larger baleen whales. Second, a recovery of blue whales despite the impact of minke whales on krill abundance and its resultant decrease, because blue whales are better able to tolerate decreased krill abundance. Future projections show a gradual increasing trend in blue whale abundance and a gradual decrease in minke abundance, with large amplitude oscillations superimposed. Long-term monitoring of biological parameters and abundance are essential to provide a basis for verification or otherwise of such predictions. Results presented here should be viewed qualitatively rather than quantitatively. However, for the future, refinement of the model structure and incorporation of age structure, data on some other major predator species that feed on krill and some spatial structure, is under consideration.
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    Consideration of multispecies interactions in the Antarctic: a preliminary model of the minke whale – blue whale – krill interaction
    (National Inquiry Services Centre, 2004) Mori, M; Butterworth, Doug S
    As a first step in investigating the major predator–prey interactions in the Antarctic, a model describing blue whales Balaenoptera musculus, minke whales Balaenoptera acutorostrata and krill Euphausia superba is developed. Blue and minke whales feed mainly on krill, and they share a similar feeding area near the Antarctic ice edge. In the early 20th century, the large baleen whales in the Antarctic were heavily harvested, some to near extinction. Blue whales were taken for almost 60 years, before being officially protected in 1964. Harvesting of the smaller minke whales commenced only in the 1970s, and the population probably increased during the mid 20th century, likely in response to increased krill abundance following the depletion of the large baleen whales. Recent studies show recoveries of some of these large baleen whale species in response to protection, and also a possible recent decrease in the stock of minke whales as the larger whales recover. This work investigates whether the abundance trends indicated by surveys and other information for these species can be explained by considering only harvesting and the predator–prey interactions between the two whale species and krill. Using historical catch data for blue and minke whales, a simple age-aggregated model including species interactions is fitted to survey abundance estimates. Uncertainties in the abundance estimates and the biological parameters are taken into account in the process by considering plausible ranges for their values. Abundance trends for the species can broadly be replicated by the model, provided the parameter values show certain features, including (i) that blue whales are able to maintain their birth and krill consumption rates until krill abundance drops to relatively low levels, and (ii) that both minke and blue whales show relatively fast rates of growth if krill is abundant, but that minke growth rate falls more rapidly as krill abundance drops. The model suggests two interesting features of the dynamics of these species. First, a substantial decrease in krill biomass from the 1970s to the 1990s as a result of the preceding rapid increase in minke whale abundance, and hence krill consumption, following the depletion of the larger baleen whales. Second, a recovery of blue whales despite the impact of minke whales on krill abundance and its resultant decrease, because blue whales are better able to tolerate decreased krill abundance. Future projections show a gradual increasing trend in blue whale abundance and a gradual decrease in minke abundance, with large amplitude oscillations superimposed. Long-term monitoring of biological parameters and abundance are essential to provide a basis for verification or otherwise of such predictions. Results presented here should be viewed qualitatively rather than quantitatively. However, for the future, refinement of the model structure and incorporation of age structure, data on some other major predator species that feed on krill and some spatial structure, is under consideration.
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    A first step towards modeling the krill-predator dynamics of the Antarctic ecosystem
    (Ccamlr Science, 2006) Mori, M; Butterworth, Doug S
    The history of human harvests of seals, whales, fish and krill in the Antarctic is summarised briefly, and the central role played by krill emphasised. The background to the hypothesis of a krill surplus in the mid-20th century is described, and the information on population and trend levels that has become available since the postulate was first advanced is discussed. The objective of the study is to determine whether predator–prey interactions alone can broadly explain observed population trends without the need for recourse to environmental change hypotheses. A model is developed including krill, four baleen whale (blue, fin, humpback and minke) and two seal (Antarctic fur and crabeater) species. The model commences in 1780 (the onset of fur seal harvests) and distinguishes the Atlantic/ Indian and Pacific Ocean sectors of the Southern Ocean in view of the much larger past harvests in the former. A reference case and six sensitivities are fitted to available data on predator abundances and trends, and the plausibility of the results and the assumptions on which they are based is discussed, together with suggested further areas for investigation. Amongst the key inferences of the study are that: (i) species interaction effects alone can explain observed predator abundance trends, though not without some difficulty; (ii) it is necessary to consider other species, in addition to baleen whales and krill, to explain observed trends – crabeater seals seemingly play an important role and constitute a particular priority for improved abundance and trend information; (iii) the Atlantic/ Indian Ocean sector shows major changes in species abundances, in contrast to the Pacific Ocean sector, which is much more stable; (iv) baleen whales have to be able to achieve relatively high growth rates to explain observed trends; and (v) Laws’ (1977) estimate of some 150 million tonnes for the krill surplus may be appreciably too high as a result of his calculations omitting consideration of density-dependent effects in feeding rates.
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    A first step towards modelling the krill–predator dynamics of the Antarctic ecosystem
    (2006) Mori, M; Butterworth, Doug S
    The history of human harvests of seals, whales, fish and krill in the Antarctic is summarised briefly, and the central role played by krill emphasised. The background to the hypothesis of a krill surplus in the mid-20th century is described, and the information on population and trend levels that has become available since the postulate was first advanced is discussed. The objective of the study is to determine whether predator–prey interactions alone can broadly explain observed population trends without the need for recourse to environmental change hypotheses. A model is developed including krill, four baleen whale (blue, fin, humpback and minke) and two seal (Antarctic fur and crabeater) species. The model commences in 1780 (the onset of fur seal harvests) and distinguishes the Atlantic/ Indian and Pacific Ocean sectors of the Southern Ocean in view of the much larger past harvests in the former. A reference case and six sensitivities are fitted to available data on predator abundances and trends, and the plausibility of the results and the assumptions on which they are based is discussed, together with suggested further areas for investigation. Amongst the key inferences of the study are that: (i) species interaction effects alone can explain observed predator abundance trends, though not without some difficulty; (ii) it is necessary to consider other species, in addition to baleen whales and krill, to explain observed trends – crabeater seals seemingly play an important role and constitute a particular priority for improved abundance and trend information; (iii) the Atlantic/ Indian Ocean sector shows major changes in species abundances, in contrast to the Pacific Ocean sector, which is much more stable; (iv) baleen whales have to be able to achieve relatively high growth rates to explain observed trends; and (v) Laws’ (1977) estimate of some 150 million tonnes for the krill surplus may be appreciably too high as a result of his calculations omitting consideration of density-dependent effects in feeding rates.
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    Further progress on modelling the krill–predator dynamics of the Antarctic ecosystem.
    (2006) Mori, M; Butterworth, Doug S
    This paper addresses work conducted on the Mori-Butterworth multi-species model of the Antarctic ecosystem subsequent to the Ulsan meeting of the Scientific Committee. Points raised about the model during that meeting are addressed in turn. Results are quoted that suggest that krill is indeed unable to fully utilise the primary production available. The precision of parameters estimated when fitting the model to abundance and trend data is reported. The model is extended to include an “other predators” variable (reflecting squid, fish and seabirds) so that the crabeater seal variable does not have to act as a surrogate for these in addition to the seals themselves. This results in an improved fit of the model to available abundance estimates for crabeater seals. A list of topics for possible further work on the model is presented. The development of an improved set of abundance and trend estimates for the various krill predators is seen as a priority for improving the reliability of current models, and it is suggested that this should be a key focus of the proposed joint IWC-CCAMLR workshop on this topic
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    Implications of the updated ADAPT-VPA assessments for the dynamics of minke whales in Areas IV and V
    (2005) Butterworth, Doug S; Mori, M
    A stock-recruitment model of the Pella-Tomlinson form is fit to recruitment and adult female abundance estimates from the Base Case ADAPT-VPA assessment of Areas IV+V combined. The trends of these plots require the assumption that minke whale carrying capacity first increased, then later decreased during the 20th Century. An initial attempt at this fit suggests that this carrying capacity increased about five fold from 1930 to the mid-1960s, and then decreased again by about half. MSYR1+ is estimated at 4.0% for this model.
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    Progress on application of ADAPT-VPA to minke whales in Areas IV and V given updated information from IDCR/SOWER and JARPA surveys
    (2005) Mori, M; Butterworth, Doug S
    The ADAPT-VPA assessment methodology of Butterworth et al. (1999) is applied to abundance estimates (from both IDCR/SOWER and JARPA surveys) and catch at age data (both commercial and scientific) for Areas IV and V. The methodology is extended to be able to take account of inter-annual differences in the distribution of the population between the two Areas when they are assessed jointly. An important feature of these updated results is that revised JARPA estimates of abundance are shown to be statistically comparable with estimates from the IDCR/SOWER programme (i.e. calibration factor not significantly different from 1). The general pattern shown by results is of a minke whale abundance trend that increased over the middle decades of the 20th Century to peak at about 1970, and then declined for the next three decades. The recruitment trend is similar, though with its peak slightly earlier. The factor to which the results are most sensitive is the value of natural mortality M. The assessments do show retrospective patterns, primarily related to changes in the best estimate of M as time has progressed. This in turn seems linked to the IDCR/SOWER survey trends suggesting higher, and the JARPA survey trends lower estimates of M. For the assessment of the two Areas combined, M is estimated at 0.068 with a CV of 0.12; this compares with CVs of typically 0.35 for the Area-specific assessments of Butterworth et al. (1999), which were based on eight seasons’ fewer data. The paper reflects an account of work in progress, and suggestions are made of areas where further analyses would be desirable.
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    Open Access
    Progress on application of ADAPT-VPA to minke whales in Areas IV and V given updated information from IDCR/SOWER and JARPA surveys
    (2005) Mori, M; Butterworth, Doug S
    The ADAPT-VPA assessment methodology of Butterworth et al. (1999) is applied to abundance estimates (from both IDCR/SOWER and JARPA surveys) and catch at age data (both commercial and scientific) for Areas IV and V. The methodology is extended to be able to take account of inter-annual differences in the distribution of the population between the two Areas when they are assessed jointly. An important feature of these updated results is that revised JARPA estimates of abundance are shown to be statistically comparable with estimates from the IDCR/SOWER programme (i.e. calibration factor not significantly different from 1). The general pattern shown by results is of a minke whale abundance trend that increased over the middle decades of the 20th Century to peak at about 1970, and then declined for the next three decades. The recruitment trend is similar, though with its peak slightly earlier. The factor to which the results are most sensitive is the value of natural mortality M. The assessments do show retrospective patterns, primarily related to changes in the best estimate of M as time has progressed. This in turn seems linked to the IDCR/SOWER survey trends suggesting higher, and the JARPA survey trends lower estimates of M. For the assessment of the two Areas combined, M is estimated at 0.068 with a CV of 0.12; this compares with CVs of typically 0.35 for the Area-specific assessments of Butterworth et al. (1999), which were based on eight seasons’ fewer data. The paper reflects an account of work in progress, and suggestions are made of areas where further analyses would be desirable.
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    Progress on multi-species modeling in the Antarctic
    (2005) Mori, M; Butterworth, Doug S
    This paper introduces a multi-species predator-prey model of whales, seals and krill in the Antarctic that is currently in development, and illustrates some example results that are obtained from the model. Due to limited time, sensitivities of the output of the model to various input parameter values and functional response forms have not yet been investigated, and are planned for future work. Preliminary results show the possible role of predator-prey interactions in influencing the dynamics of the Antarctic species considered in the model.