ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS OF NORTH-ATLANTIC RIGHT AND FIN WHALE HABITAT IN THE LOWER BAY-OF-FUNDY, CANADA

Characteristics of right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) and fin whale (Ba laenoptera physalus) habitat in the lower Bay of Fundy were identified by quantifying physical and biological habitat variables and comparin g them to the distribution of whales during the summer and autumn of 1 989. Right whales were generally distributed over the Grand Manan Basi n, where the bottom topography is relatively flat and the water column was stratified. Calanus finmarchicus, the principal prey species of r ight whales, was the predominant copepod taken in zooplankton hauls, a nd the depth-averaged density (mean 1139/m(3)) was significantly great er where right whales were present. Fin whales were distributed mainly in shallower areas with high topographic variation that were likely w ell mixed or contained frontal interfaces between mixed and stratified waters. Herring (Clupea harengus) and euphausiids, both known prey of fin whales, were relatively abundant on echosounder traces in areas w here fin whales were present. The habitats of both whale species were primarily characterized by high densities of principal prey species an d the physical conditions that facilitate the accumulation of these pr ey.