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Updated: Aug 14, 2026
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Long-term Video Tracking of Cohoused Aquatic Animals: A Case Study of the Daily Locomotor Activity of the Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus)
Published on: April 8, 2019
Fractal analysis of narwhal space use patterns
Kristin L Laidre1, Mads P Heide-Jørgensen, Miles L Logsdon
1Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Box 355020, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Kristin.Laidre@noaa.gov
Zoology (Jena, Germany)
|December 15, 2005
Summary
Narwhal movement complexity varies by season, with convoluted paths in summer/winter suggesting foraging and linear paths during fall migration. This highlights how environmental dynamics influence narwhal behavior and habitat use.
Area of Science:
- Marine Ecology
- Animal Behavior
- Movement Ecology
Background:
- Understanding animal movement in complex environments is key to population viability.
- Marine predators navigate dynamic, patchy systems influencing behavior.
- Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) inhabit Arctic waters, facing seasonal environmental changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify narwhal movement patterns using fractal analysis.
- To investigate seasonal variations in movement complexity.
- To understand how environmental factors influence narwhal behavior.
Main Methods:
- Utilized satellite tracking data from 20 narwhals.
- Applied fractal dimension analysis to movement paths across seven temporal scales.
- Filtered ARGOS data for daily, good-quality positions.
Main Results:
- Fractal dimension (D) differed significantly by season: highest in summer (1.61) and winter (1.69), lowest in fall (1.34).
- Convoluted movements in summer/winter indicate localized foraging; linear movements in fall suggest migration.
- No significant effect of narwhal size or sex on fractal dimension was observed.
Conclusions:
- Narwhal movement complexity is seasonally dependent, reflecting distinct behavioral strategies.
- Seasonal changes in movement patterns are linked to foraging and migration in response to environmental conditions, such as sea ice.
- Differences in fractal dimensions between wintering grounds suggest varied responses to sea ice dynamics.
