Minke whales’ habitat use within Skjálfandi Bay, Iceland had been investigated on population and individual base. Sighting numbers were found to decline in the percentage positive surveys and sightings per unit effort. Abundances of minke whales might have decreased due to a population
decline and a distribution shift to higher latitudes. Changes in distribution on population level had been found interannually. It might be due to a change in the cetacean community. Seasonal distribution shifts were found after prey distributions. Schooling fish and minke whale inhabited areas
along the shore in spring and a plankton bloom through the whole bay in summer and fall provided feeding grounds for minkes in summer and fall. Minke whales seemed to be more separated in the morning but then joined their ranges through the day. Such segregation due to avoidance of
intraspecific competition during feeding were discussed. Small scale site fidelity was proven for the first time for the species modelling distances between individual relocations and random relocations. The whales’ hatitat use patterns were discussed in a conservational context.
Managing Thesis and Internship Exchanges
