| Project leader: | Dr. Helena Herr |
|---|---|
| Project term: | September 2014 until December 2016 |
| Sponsorship: |
Federal Ministry of Education and Research |
Project description
This project analyses data from Australian and German aerial surveys in sea ice regions of the Southern Ocean. Australia (CSIRO und AMMC/ADD) and Germany (ITAW) are currently the only countries conducting dedicated aerial surveys for cetaceans in sea ice. Aerial surveys are the favoured method for obtaining sighting data from ice covered areas. The main objective of the project is to analyse the relationship of whale densities and sea ice in the Antarctic ecosystem. Data on these relationships are needed for judging the potential effects of climate change related changes in sea ice or impacts of increasing human acticities in the Antarctic. The results of this projects will be made available to international bodies such as the IWC, CCAMLR and the Antarctic Treaty System in order to support protection and management efforts for the Antarctic ecosystem.
