Robert Michaud

Email: michaudr@is2.dal.ca, or robertmichaud@mail.fjord-best.com

PhD title: The social organization of the St. Lawrence Beluga

Synopsis of research proposal

In this study, I will examine the patterns of association among individually identified belugas Delphinapterus leucas in the St Lawrence population. I will test whether belugas have preferred companions and I will define their social units. In order to provide a broader portrait of the social organisation of the population, I will examine the behavioral and ecological context of the relationships among and within the different categories of individuals. Social structure and distribution patterns generally represent an important adaptation of an animal to its environment. Because cetaceans live in a completely different habitat from all other mammals, the study of their social organization can provide interesting insight into the selective pressures acting on sociality. Furthermore, sound conservation and management strategies of endangered populations must be founded on a detailed understanding of their social organization and specific habitat requirements.

Objectives of the project

Define the grouping pattern of beluga whales using simple structural descriptors such as group size and composition
Determine the sexes of individually identified belugas from molecular analysis of skin samples
Define the range and habitat preferences of individually identified belugas from long term sighting data
Describe the patterns of associations among photo-identified individuals and determine whether individuals have preferred companions
Define social units and their habitat preferences
Describe the beluga's social organization from the analysis of the nature and temporal patterning of associations among individuals
Estimate the population size using capture-recapture analysis

Education

Ph. D. (in progress)	Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, The social organization of the St. Lawrence Beluga
M. Sc. (1986-1990)	Biology, Université Laval, Québec, Summer distribution and movements of the St. Lawrence Beluga
B. Sc. (1979-1982)	Biology, Université Laval, Québec

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

PRESIDENT AND FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE GREMM, Group of Research and Education on Marine Mammals (1984 TO PRESENT). Research program director and educational program consultant for the GREMM and the Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre in Tadoussac. Supervisor of a detailed study of the behaviour of fin whales and whalewatching activities in the St. Lawrence estuary since 1994. This study, carried out in partnership with the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park and the Maurice Lamontagne Institute, aims to characterize all whalewatching activities and their impact on the behaviour of fin whales.

Specific projects

Consultant for Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Consulting committee on whale whatching regulation in the St. Lawrence.

Project manager in contracts for Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Variation saisonnière de l'abondance des rorquals communs dans l'estuaire maritime du Saint-Laurent. 1990

Project manager in contracts for Parks Canada and Ministère de l'environnement et de la faune du Québec

Activités d'observation en mer des baleines de l'estuaire du Saint-Laurent: Situation actuelle et problématique. 1993
Caractérisation des activités d'observation en mer des baleines de l'estuaire du Saint-Laurent. 1994-1995-1996
Distribution et comportement des rorquals communs dans l'estuare du Saint-Laurent; étude assistée de télémétrie VHF. 1994-1995-1996

CO-FOUNDER AND MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ST. LAWRENCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ECOTOXICOLOGY (1986 TO PRESENT). Person in charge of the research program on the behavioural ecology of the St. Lawrence beluga whales. Directing a long term research project on the distribution, habitat use, social organisation and group dynamics of the St. Lawrence beluga whale population since 1986.

Specific projects

Consultant for WWF and Fisheries and Oceans Canada

St. Lawrence beluga whale recovery team

Consultant for Parks Canada

Synthèse et analyse des connaissances relatives aux ressources naturelles du parc marin du Saguenay. Argus Groupe Conseil. 1991

Project manager in contrats for Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Parks Canada

Survols aériens pour l'estimation de la distribution saisonnière des bélugas dans le Saint-Laurent 1989
Étude de la variabilité de la composition des troupeaux de bélugas dans l'estuaire du Saint-Laurent 1989Distribution annuelle et caractérisation préliminaire des habitat du béluga du Saint-Laurent. Groupe Lapel Conseil et INESL. 1990
Survols aériens pour l'estimation de la distribution printanière des bélugas du Saint-Laurent 1990
Récolte de données d'inventaire sur la distribution et l'abondance des grandes baleines dans le nord du Golfe Saint-Laurent 1991
Évaluation de la structure de la population des bélugas du Saint-Laurent; I) Potentiel d'accroissement de la population, II) Structure et composition des troupeaux. 1992
Fréquentation de la baie Ste-Marguerite par les bélugas du Saint-Laurent. 1992
Distribution estivale des bélugas du Saint-Laurent: Synthèse 1986-1992. 1993

Project manager in contrats for Hydro-Québec

Distribution du Béluga dans la portion amont de l'estuaire du Saint-Laurent: secteur de l'Ile aux Coudres. 1987
Distribution estivale du béluga dans l'estuaire du Saint-Laurent: repérage aériens 1987-1988 . 1988

SPECIAL COMMITTEEs

St. Lawrence Beluga Recovery Team (WWF Canada and Dept of Fisheries and Oceans of Canada)

Expert member of the recovery team responsible for the preparation of the recovery plan (1995-1995)
Expert member of the implementation comittee (1997 and ongoing mandate)

Consulting committee on whale watching in the St. Lawrence (Dept of Fisheries and Oceans of Canada)

Expert member (1986-1993)

PUBLICATIONS

THESES AND SCIENTIFIC REPORTS

MICHAUD, R. 1989. Distribution estivale et mouvements des bélugas (Delphinapterus leucas. ) dans l'estuaire du Saint-Laurent. M.Sc. thesis, départ. de biologie de l'Université Laval. 71p.

MICHAUD,R. 1993. Distribution estivale du béluga du Saint-Laurent: Synthèse 1986-1992. Rapp tech. can sci. halieut. aquat. 1906: vi + 28p

MICHAUD. R., M.C.S. KINGSLEY AND P. BÉLAND. Submitted. Potentiel d'accroissement de la population des bélugas du Saint-Laurent. Rapp. tech. can. sci. halieut. aquat.

MICHAUD, R., A. VÉZINA, N. RONDEAU, et Y. VIGNEAULT. 1990. Annual distribution and preliminary characterization of beluga habitats in the St. Lawrence. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1756: v + 31p.

CONTRIBUTIONS

BELAND, P., R. MICHAUD et D. MARTINEAU. 1986. Recensements de la population de bélugas, Delphinapterus leucas, du Saint-Laurent par embarcation en 1985. Rapp tech. can. sci. halieut. aquat. 1545: v + 21p.

BÉLAND, P. S. DeGUISE, C. GIRARD, A. LAGACÉ, D. MARTINEAU, R. MICHAUD, D. MUIR, R. NORSTROM, É. PELLETIER, S. RAY AND L. SHUGART. 1992. Toxic compounds: health and reproductive effects in the St.Lawrence beluga whales. J. Great Lakes Res. 19(4):766-775

DeGUISE, S., J. GIARD, R. PATENAUDE, R. MICHAUD, P. BÉLAND, K, RAMIREZ, P. TURGEON AND É. PELLETIER. submitted. Rescue of a newborn beluga whale, Delphinapterus leucas, in the St.Lawrence Estuary, Québec, Canada. J. Zoo. Wildl. Med.

GIARD, J. AND R. MICHAUD. 1997. L’observation des rorquals sous surveillance par tlélémétrie VHF. Naturaliste Canadien. Été 1997: 25-29.

SCHEIFELE, P.M., R. MICHAUD, P. BÉLAND ET I.G. BABB. 1997. Évaluation des niveaux de bruit ambiant et de source anthropogéniques dans l’habitat du béluga du Saint-Laurent et leurs impacts potentiels. Rapport final.

CONFERENCES

BRETON, M. AND R. MICHAUD. 1989. Distribution annuelle et caractérisation préliminaire des habitats du béluga du Saint-Laurent. In Symposium sur le Saint- Laurent: un fleuve à reconquérir. Montréal, 3-5 novembre 1989. Collection Environnement et Géologie, Vol. 11. p.253-270.

LETCHER, R.J, D.C.G. MUIR, R.J. NORSTROM, R. MICHAUD ET P. BÉLAND. 1997. PCB Biotransformation and Methyl Sulfone PCB Metabolites in Beluga Whales (Delphinapterus leucas) From the St. Lawrence River Estuary and Western Hudson Bay. Dioxin 1997.

MICHAUD, R. 1990. Mouvements, comportements et zones fréquentées par le béluga du Saint-Laurent. In Compte rendu du Forum international pour l'avenir du béluga. Presse de l'Université du Québec. 345p.

MICHAUD, R. 1996. Les populations de mammifères marins sont elles menacées par l’écotourisme?In Le Saint-Laurent pour la vie; Actes du 21e congrès de l’Association des biologistes du Québec. Eds Lauzon. L, H. Dion and C.E. Delisle. Collection Environnement de l’Université de Montréal, Vol. 23: 155-165.

MICHAUD, R. 1997. The St. Lawrence Beluga case. The Whale Forum. Ontario Royal Museum, Toronto. November 2nd, 1997.

MICHAUD, R. AND J. GIARD 1998. VHF tracking of fin whales provides scientific ground for the management of whale watching in the St. Lawrence Estuary. The World Marine Mammal Sceince Conference. Monaco, 20-24 January 1998. Abstract only: p.91

MICHAUD, R., C. BARRETTE AND P. BÉLAND. 1993. Summer distribution and grouping patterns of belugas in the St.Lawrence estuary: an insight into their social structure. Tenth biennial conference on the biology of marine mammals. Society for marine mammalogy.Galveston, Tx, USA, November 11-15 1993. Abstract only. p.1

BOOKS

MICHAUD, R. 1993. Rencontres avec les baleines du Saint-Laurent. Éditeur GREMM, Tadoussac, Québec. 76p.

Link to information on GREMM, Groupe de Recherche et Education sur le Milieu Marin

Last Updated April, 1998 by Sascha Hooker