Multiple strategies and cues define baleen whale migration
Migration is a do-or-die life-history strategy, yet factors shaping it remain poorly studied in many marine taxa, as direct observations are difficult. Building on animal migration theory, we used satellite tracking data from 21 southern right whales tagged in Aotearoa New Zealand to investigate migratory cues, timing and routes. Whales followed either a direct westward route or a longer, indirect route via higher latitudes when migrating from their wintering grounds to summer feeding grounds. Departure timing from wintering grounds was the only significant predictor of route choice, independent of sex, age class, body length or condition. Early-departing whales were more likely to follow the longer route, taking more days to migrate, yet they arrived at shared feeding grounds at similar times to whales using the direct route. These contrasting behaviours are hypothesized to reflect trade-offs between time- and energy-minimization strategies. During migration, whales may use multiple external cues to navigate, including gradients associated with ocean currents, bathymetry and magnetic inclination. The availability of two distinct migratory routes, combined with individual flexibility in route choice, may enhance population resilience in a changing ocean.
Authors
- Rochelle Constantine (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3260-539X)
- Alice Della Penna (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7579-3610)
- Kimberly T. Goetz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1356-0512)
- Emma L. Carroll (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3193-7288)
- Alexandre Novaes Zerbini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9776-6605)
- Leena Riekkola (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9653-7106)
- Virginia L. Andrews-Goff (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4609-7317)
- Catherine E. Meyer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6627-7323)
- Fredrik Christiansen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9090-8458)
- Mike Ogle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5710-6465)
- Rosalind Cole
- David Lundquist
- Esther Stuck
- Xuelei Zhang
- Simon Childerhouse
- Gabriela Duran
- Robert Harcourt
Institutions
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (BR)
- Australian Antarctic Division (AU)
- Auckland Institute of Studies (NZ)
- University of Auckland (NZ)
- Aarhus University (DK)
- Mammal Research Institute (PL)
- Blue Planet (Norway) (NO)
- NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Fisheries Science Center (US)
- Istituto di Scienze Marine del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IT)
- Department of Conservation (NZ)
- Marine Ecology and Telemetry Research (US)
- Centro Universitário Academia (BR)
- University of Pretoria (ZA)
- Macquarie University (AU)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences
- Published
- 2026-10-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2026.0029
- Primary Topic
- Marine animal studies overview
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies, University of Washington
- U.S. Department of Commerce
- Ocean Foundation
- Department of Conservation, New Zealand
- Antarctica New Zealand
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Australian Antarctic Division
- British Antarctic Survey