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ICES Journal of Marine Science: Journal du Conseil 2004 61(3):430-440; doi:10.1016/j.icesjms.2004.02.002
© 2004 by ICES/CIEM International Council for the Exploration of the Sea/Conseil International pour l'Exploration de la Mer
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Deep-ocean predation by a high Arctic cetacean

K.L. Laidre1,a,*, M.P. Heide-Jørgensenb, O.A. Jørgensenc and M.A. Trebled

a School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington Box 355020, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
b Greenland Institute of Natural Resources P.O. Box 570, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland
c Danish Institute for Fisheries Research Charlottenlund Slot, 2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark
d Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Central Arctic Region, Freshwater Institute Science Laboratory 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg MB, RT3 2N6, Canada

*Correspondence to K. L. Laidre: tel: +1 206 526 6866; fax: +1 206 526 6615. e-mail: Kristin.Laidre{at}noaa.gov.

A bioenergetic model for two narwhal (Monodon monoceros) sub-populations was developed to quantify daily gross energy requirements and estimate the biomass of Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) needed to sustain the sub-populations for their 5-month stay on wintering grounds in Baffin Bay. Whales in two separate wintering grounds were estimated to require 700 tonnes (s.e. 300) and 90 tonnes (s.e. 40) of Greenland halibut per day, assuming a diet of 50% Greenland halibut. Mean densities and length distributions of Greenland halibut inside and outside of the narwhal wintering grounds were correlated with predicted whale predation levels based on diving behavior. The difference in Greenland halibut biomass between an area with high predation and a comparable area without whales, approximately 19 000 tonnes, corresponded well with the predicted biomass removed by the narwhal sub-population on a diet of 50–75% Greenland halibut.

Keywords: Arctic, Baffin Bay, food consumption, Greenland halibut, narwhal, telemetry

Received 3 November 2003; accepted 3 February 2004.

1 Present address: National Marine Mammal Laboratory, AFSC, NMFS, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way, N. E., Seattle, WA 98115, USA.


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