Endangered Right Whales of the Southwestern North Atlantic

摘要

The study indicates the coastal waters of the southeastern United States are theprimary calving grounds for western North Atlantic right whales. The calving season extends from late November until early March, and peaks in January. Right whale cows with newborn calves were distributed primarily between latitudes 27 degrees 30' N and 32 degrees 00' N, and were found significantly closer to shore than other non-calving right whales. Given the low population size, its low growth rate, and the impacts of human activities, the calving ground may be critical to the North Atlantic right whale's survival.