CHANGES IN GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION OF HARBOR PORPOISES, PHOCOENA-PHOCOENA, FROM THE BAY OF FUNDY

Changes in the growth and reproduction of harbour porpoises from the Bay of Fundy are described by comparing samples collected in 1969-73 and 1985-88. The most pronounced change was an increase in the length of calves, from 92.1cm (SE 1.6) in 1969-73 to 108cm (SE 1.3) in 1985-88. Females in 1985-88 attained sexual maturity at a significantly younger age (3.44yr) and shorter length (143cm) than females from the older sample (3.97yr and 147cm). These changes may be attributable to an increase in prey availability to individual porpoises. This presumed increase in prey availability may have resulted from a decrease in porpoise density caused by incidental mortality in commercial fisheries, a simultaneous increase in prey abundance, or a combination of these factors. -Authors