Inter-Research
Marine Ecology Progress Series

ABSTRACT: The impact of commercial exploitation of whales on species diversity in the Antarctic whale community has not yet been documented. I report a correlation between the lowest species diversity and the largest biomass in the high productivity region near the ice-edge. Species diversity was higher and constant in waters beyond 60 n miles (~111 km) away from the ice-edge. Density and biomass showed the opposite trend. Species diversity increased with time in a part of the study area where large whales were depleted, but numbers are now recovering. This suggests that the whale community is moving toward a new balance of species composition during its recovery from past whaling impacts.

KEY WORDS: Cetacean · Distribution · Species diversity · Community · Antarctic · Sightings

Published in MEPS Vol. 200 (2000) on July 14
Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599. Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2000