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Åsvestad L, Ahonen H, Menze S, Lowther A, Lindstrøm U, Krafft BA. Seasonal acoustic presence of marine mammals at the South Orkney Islands, Scotia Sea. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:230233. [PMID: 38179083 PMCID: PMC10762438 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Increased knowledge about marine mammal seasonal distribution and species assemblage from the South Orkney Islands waters is needed for the development of management regulations of the commercial fishery for Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) in this region. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) data were collected during the autumn and winter seasons in two consecutive years (2016, 2017), which represented highly contrasting environmental conditions due to the 2016 El Niño event. We explored differences in seasonal patterns in marine mammal acoustic presence between the two years in context of environmental cues and climate variability. Acoustic signals from five baleen whale species, two pinniped species and odontocete species were detected and separated into guilds. Although species diversity remained stable over time, the ice-avoiding and ice-affiliated species dominated before and after the onset of winter, respectively, and thus demonstrating a shift in guild composition related to season. Herein, we provide novel information about local marine mammal species diversity, community structure and residency times in a krill hotspot. Our study also demonstrates the utility of PAM data and its usefulness in providing new insights into the marine mammal habitat use and responses to environmental conditions, which are essential knowledge for the future development of a sustainable fishery management in a changing ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ulf Lindstrøm
- University of Tromsø, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
- Institute of Marine Research, 9296 Tromsø Norway
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2
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Booth CG, Guilpin M, Darias-O’Hara AK, Ransijn JM, Ryder M, Rosen D, Pirotta E, Smout S, McHuron EA, Nabe-Nielsen J, Costa DP. Estimating energetic intake for marine mammal bioenergetic models. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 11:coac083. [PMID: 36756464 PMCID: PMC9900471 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Bioenergetics is the study of how animals achieve energetic balance. Energetic balance results from the energetic expenditure of an individual and the energy they extract from their environment. Ingested energy depends on several extrinsic (e.g prey species, nutritional value and composition, prey density and availability) and intrinsic factors (e.g. foraging effort, success at catching prey, digestive processes and associated energy losses, and digestive capacity). While the focus in bioenergetic modelling is often on the energetic costs an animal incurs, the robust estimation of an individual's energy intake is equally critical for producing meaningful predictions. Here, we review the components and processes that affect energy intake from ingested gross energy to biologically useful net energy (NE). The current state of knowledge of each parameter is reviewed, shedding light on research gaps to advance this field. The review highlighted that the foraging behaviour of many marine mammals is relatively well studied via biologging tags, with estimates of success rate typically assumed for most species. However, actual prey capture success rates are often only assumed, although we note studies that provide approaches for its estimation using current techniques. A comprehensive collation of the nutritional content of marine mammal prey species revealed a robust foundation from which prey quality (comprising prey species, size and energy density) can be assessed, though data remain unavailable for many prey species. Empirical information on various energy losses following ingestion of prey was unbalanced among marine mammal species, with considerably more literature available for pinnipeds. An increased understanding and accurate estimate of each of the components that comprise a species NE intake are an integral part of bioenergetics. Such models provide a key tool to investigate the effects of disturbance on marine mammals at an individual and population level and to support effective conservation and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cormac G Booth
- Corresponding author: SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, East Sands, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK.
| | | | - Aimee-Kate Darias-O’Hara
- SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, East Sands, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Janneke M Ransijn
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, East Sands, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Megan Ryder
- SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, East Sands, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Dave Rosen
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall,
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Enrico Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling,
The Observatory, Buchanan
Gardens, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews,
KY16 9LZ, UK
| | - Sophie Smout
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, East Sands, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Elizabeth A McHuron
- Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies, University of Washington, 3737 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
| | - Jacob Nabe-Nielsen
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, DK-4000
Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Daniel P Costa
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of California Santa Cruz, 130
McAlister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA
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3
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Pallin L, Bierlich KC, Durban J, Fearnbach H, Savenko O, Baker CS, Bell E, Double MC, de la Mare W, Goldbogen J, Johnston D, Kellar N, Nichols R, Nowacek D, Read AJ, Steel D, Friedlaender A. Demography of an ice-obligate mysticete in a region of rapid environmental change. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:220724. [PMID: 36397972 PMCID: PMC9626259 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis, AMW) are an abundant, ice-dependent species susceptible to rapid climatic changes occurring in parts of the Antarctic. Here, we used remote biopsy samples and estimates of length derived from unoccupied aircraft system (UAS) to characterize for the first time the sex ratio, maturity, and pregnancy rates of AMWs around the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP). DNA profiling of 82 biopsy samples (2013-2020) identified 29 individual males and 40 individual females. Blubber progesterone levels indicated 59% of all sampled females were pregnant, irrespective of maturity. When corrected for sexual maturity, the median pregnancy rate was 92.3%, indicating that most mature females become pregnant each year. We measured 68 individuals by UAS (mean = 8.04 m) and estimated that 66.5% of females were mature. This study provides the first data on the demography of AMWs along the WAP and represents the first use of non-lethal approaches to studying this species. Furthermore, these results provide baselines against which future changes in population status can be assessed in this rapidly changing marine ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Pallin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Health Building, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - K. C. Bierlich
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
- Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR, USA
| | - J. Durban
- Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR, USA
- SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation, and Research, Des Moines, WA 98198, USA
| | - H. Fearnbach
- SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation, and Research, Des Moines, WA 98198, USA
| | - O. Savenko
- National Antarctic Scientific Center of Ukraine, 16 Taras Shevchenko Blvd, 01601, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Ukrainian Scientific Center of Ecology of the Sea, 89 Frantsuzsky Blvd, 65009, Odesa, Ukraine
| | - C. S. Baker
- Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR, USA
| | - E. Bell
- Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tas 7050, Australia
| | - M. C. Double
- Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tas 7050, Australia
| | - W. de la Mare
- Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tas 7050, Australia
| | - J. Goldbogen
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - D. Johnston
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - N. Kellar
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - R. Nichols
- Institute for Marine Science, University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Health Building, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
- Department of Ocean Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Health Building, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - D. Nowacek
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - A. J. Read
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - D. Steel
- Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR, USA
| | - A. Friedlaender
- Institute for Marine Science, University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Health Building, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
- Department of Ocean Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Health Building, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
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4
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Gabler-Smith MK, Berger AJ, Gay DM, Kinsey ST, Westgate AJ, Koopman HN. Microvascular anatomy suggests varying aerobic activity levels in the adipose tissues of diving tetrapods. J Comp Physiol B 2022; 192:623-645. [PMID: 35779114 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-022-01446-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Adipose tissue has many important functions including metabolic energy storage, endocrine functions, thermoregulation and structural support. Given these varied functions, the microvascular characteristics within the tissue will have important roles in determining rates/limits of exchange of nutrients, waste, gases and molecular signaling molecules between adipose tissue and blood. Studies on skeletal muscle have suggested that tissues with higher aerobic capacity contain higher microvascular density (MVD) with lower diffusion distances (DD) than less aerobically active tissues. However, little is known about MVD in adipose tissue of most vertebrates; therefore, we measured microvascular characteristics (MVD, DD, diameter and branching) and cell size to explore the comparative aerobic activity in the adipose tissue across diving tetrapods, a group of animals facing additional physiological and metabolic stresses associated with diving. Adipose tissues of 33 animals were examined, including seabirds, sea turtles, pinnipeds, baleen whales and toothed whales. MVD and DD varied significantly (P < 0.001) among the groups, with seabirds generally having high MVD, low DD and small adipocytes. These characteristics suggest that microvessel arrangement in short duration divers (seabirds) reflects rapid lipid turnover, compared to longer duration divers (beaked whales) which have relatively lower MVD and greater DD, perhaps reflecting the requirement for tissue with lower metabolic activity, minimizing energetic costs during diving. Across all groups, predictable scaling patterns in MVD and DD such as those observed in skeletal muscle did not emerge, likely reflecting the fact that unlike skeletal muscle, adipose tissue performs many different functions in marine organisms, often within the same tissue compartment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly K Gabler-Smith
- Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, USA. .,Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Amy J Berger
- Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, USA
| | - D Mark Gay
- Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, USA
| | - Stephen T Kinsey
- Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, USA
| | - Andrew J Westgate
- Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, USA
| | - Heather N Koopman
- Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, USA
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5
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Casey CB, Weindorf S, Levy E, Linsky JMJ, Cade DE, Goldbogen JA, Nowacek DP, Friedlaender AS. Acoustic signalling and behaviour of Antarctic minke whales ( Balaenoptera bonaerensis). ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:211557. [PMID: 35911199 PMCID: PMC9326272 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.211557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Acoustic signalling is the predominant form of communication among cetaceans. Understanding the behavioural state of calling individuals can provide insights into the specific function of sound production; in turn, this information can aid the evaluation of passive monitoring datasets to estimate species presence, density, and behaviour. Antarctic minke whales are the most numerous baleen whale species in the Southern Ocean. However, our knowledge of their vocal behaviour is limited. Using, to our knowledge, the first animal-borne audio-video documentation of underwater behaviour in this species, we characterize Antarctic minke whale sound production and evaluate the association between acoustic behaviour, foraging behaviour, diel patterns and the presence of close conspecifics. In addition to the previously described downsweep call, we find evidence of three novel calls not previously described in their vocal repertoire. Overall, these signals displayed peak frequencies between 90 and 175 Hz and ranged from 0.2 to 0.8 s on average (90% duration). Additionally, each of the four call types was associated with measured behavioural and environmental parameters. Our results represent a significant advancement in understanding of the life history of this species and improve our capacity to acoustically monitor minke whales in a rapidly changing Antarctic region.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. B. Casey
- Institute for Marine Sciences, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - S. Weindorf
- Institute for Marine Sciences, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - E. Levy
- Institute for Marine Sciences, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - J. M. J. Linsky
- Institute for Marine Sciences, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - D. E. Cade
- Institute for Marine Sciences, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - J. A. Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - D. P. Nowacek
- Nicholas School of the Environment and Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - A. S. Friedlaender
- Institute for Marine Sciences, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
- Ocean Sciences Department, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
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6
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Nishimura F, Kim Y, Bando T, Fujise Y, Nakamura G, Murase H, Kato H. Morphological differences in skulls and feeding apparatuses between Antarctic (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) and common (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) minke whales, and the implication for their feeding ecology. CAN J ZOOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2020-0237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The differences in rorqual feeding ecology have been linked to the presence of different morphological markers. The Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis Burmeister, 1867) and the common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804) are closely related species, but their morphological differences have not been fully investigated. In this study, we compared 21 skull and 11 feeding apparatus (baleen and mouth-related parts) measurement points between these two species using hundreds of individuals covering a wide range of body lengths in both sexes. Their engulfment capacities were estimated using these measurements. Our results show that Antarctic minke whales have (i) proportionally larger skulls to the body length, (ii) more dorsoventrally and laterally curved rostra, (iii) proportionally larger feeding apparatuses to the condylobasal length, and (iv) significantly larger engulfment capacity than common minke whales. These differences could indicate that Antarctic minke whales have developed a feeding strategy suitable for feeding on krill, which forms large schools. In contrast, common minke whales have adapted to prey on small pelagic fishes that are agile and form small schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Nishimura
- Laboratory of Cetacean Biology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan
| | - Y. Kim
- Laboratory of Cetacean Biology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan
| | - T. Bando
- Institute of Cetacean Research, Toyomi Shinko Building 5F, 4-5 Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0055, Japan
| | - Y. Fujise
- Institute of Cetacean Research, Toyomi Shinko Building 5F, 4-5 Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0055, Japan
| | - G. Nakamura
- Laboratory of Cetacean Biology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan
| | - H. Murase
- Laboratory of Cetacean Biology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan
| | - H. Kato
- Laboratory of Cetacean Biology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan
- Institute of Cetacean Research, Toyomi Shinko Building 5F, 4-5 Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0055, Japan
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7
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Savoca MS, Czapanskiy MF, Kahane-Rapport SR, Gough WT, Fahlbusch JA, Bierlich KC, Segre PS, Di Clemente J, Penry GS, Wiley DN, Calambokidis J, Nowacek DP, Johnston DW, Pyenson ND, Friedlaender AS, Hazen EL, Goldbogen JA. Baleen whale prey consumption based on high-resolution foraging measurements. Nature 2021; 599:85-90. [PMID: 34732868 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03991-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Baleen whales influence their ecosystems through immense prey consumption and nutrient recycling1-3. It is difficult to accurately gauge the magnitude of their current or historic ecosystem role without measuring feeding rates and prey consumed. To date, prey consumption of the largest species has been estimated using metabolic models3-9 based on extrapolations that lack empirical validation. Here, we used tags deployed on seven baleen whale (Mysticeti) species (n = 321 tag deployments) in conjunction with acoustic measurements of prey density to calculate prey consumption at daily to annual scales from the Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern Oceans. Our results suggest that previous studies3-9 have underestimated baleen whale prey consumption by threefold or more in some ecosystems. In the Southern Ocean alone, we calculate that pre-whaling populations of mysticetes annually consumed 430 million tonnes of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), twice the current estimated total biomass of E. superba10, and more than twice the global catch of marine fisheries today11. Larger whale populations may have supported higher productivity in large marine regions through enhanced nutrient recycling: our findings suggest mysticetes recycled 1.2 × 104 tonnes iron yr-1 in the Southern Ocean before whaling compared to 1.2 × 103 tonnes iron yr-1 recycled by whales today. The recovery of baleen whales and their nutrient recycling services2,3,7 could augment productivity and restore ecosystem function lost during 20th century whaling12,13.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Savoca
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA.
| | - Max F Czapanskiy
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | | | - William T Gough
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - James A Fahlbusch
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA.,Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, WA, USA
| | - K C Bierlich
- Duke University Marine Laboratory, Duke University, Beaufort, NC, USA.,Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR, USA
| | - Paolo S Segre
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - Jacopo Di Clemente
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Gwenith S Penry
- Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
| | - David N Wiley
- Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA National Ocean Service, Scituate, MA, USA
| | | | - Douglas P Nowacek
- Duke University Marine Laboratory, Duke University, Beaufort, NC, USA
| | - David W Johnston
- Duke University Marine Laboratory, Duke University, Beaufort, NC, USA
| | - Nicholas D Pyenson
- Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Paleontology and Geology, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ari S Friedlaender
- Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Elliott L Hazen
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA.,Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA.,Environmental Research Division, NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Monterey, CA, USA
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8
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Reichmuth C, Casey C, Friedlaender A. In-situ observations of the sensory hairs of Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis). Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2021; 305:568-576. [PMID: 34288524 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The sense of touch in the largest marine mammals is poorly understood. While mysticetes possess specialized sensory hairs that are present through adulthood, descriptions of these structures are based almost entirely on examination of tissues in post-mortem individuals. Sensory hairs have rarely been observed and described in living whales. We photographed Antarctic minke whales Balaenoptera bonaerensis in the Western Antarctic Peninsula and used high-resolution images to describe the number, distribution, orientation, and relative size of sensory hairs in freely swimming individuals. Sensory hairs were well developed. They were distributed on the tip of the lower jaw, the margins of the upper and lower jaw, and near the blowhole. Far fewer hairs were observed than reported for other mysticete species, including the related species Balaenoptera acutorostrata. Placement and apparent stiffness of sensory hairs within living tissue combined with observations and images of moving whales suggest these structures aid in detecting air and ice interfaces, and possibly, the boundaries of submerged prey fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen Reichmuth
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Caroline Casey
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Ari Friedlaender
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
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9
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Grant SM, Waller CL, Morley SA, Barnes DKA, Brasier MJ, Double MC, Griffiths HJ, Hughes KA, Jackson JA, Waluda CM, Constable AJ. Local Drivers of Change in Southern Ocean Ecosystems: Human Activities and Policy Implications. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.624518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Local drivers are human activities or processes that occur in specific locations, and cause physical or ecological change at the local or regional scale. Here, we consider marine and land-derived pollution, non-indigenous species, tourism and other human visits, exploitation of marine resources, recovery of marine mammals, and coastal change as a result of ice loss, in terms of their historic and current extent, and their interactions with the Southern Ocean environment. We summarise projected increases or decreases in the influence of local drivers, and projected changes to their geographic range, concluding that the influence of non-indigenous species, fishing, and the recovery of marine mammals are predicted to increase in the future across the Southern Ocean. Local drivers can be managed regionally, and we identify existing governance frameworks as part of the Antarctic Treaty System and other instruments which may be employed to mitigate or limit their impacts on Southern Ocean ecosystems.
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10
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El‐Gabbas A, Van Opzeeland I, Burkhardt E, Boebel O. Static species distribution models in the marine realm: The case of baleen whales in the Southern Ocean. DIVERS DISTRIB 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed El‐Gabbas
- Ocean Acoustics Group Alfred‐Wegener‐Institut (AWI) Helmholtz‐Zentrum für Polar‐ und Meeresforschung Bremerhaven Germany
| | - Ilse Van Opzeeland
- Ocean Acoustics Group Alfred‐Wegener‐Institut (AWI) Helmholtz‐Zentrum für Polar‐ und Meeresforschung Bremerhaven Germany
| | - Elke Burkhardt
- Ocean Acoustics Group Alfred‐Wegener‐Institut (AWI) Helmholtz‐Zentrum für Polar‐ und Meeresforschung Bremerhaven Germany
| | - Olaf Boebel
- Ocean Acoustics Group Alfred‐Wegener‐Institut (AWI) Helmholtz‐Zentrum für Polar‐ und Meeresforschung Bremerhaven Germany
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11
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Segre PS, Weir CR, Stanworth A, Cartwright S, Friedlaender AS, Goldbogen JA. Biomechanically distinct filter-feeding behaviors distinguish sei whales as a functional intermediate and ecologically flexible species. J Exp Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.238873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
With their ability to facultatively switch between filter-feeding modes, sei whales represent a functional and ecological intermediate in the transition between intermittent and continuous filter feeding. Morphologically resembling their lunge-feeding, rorqual relatives, sei whales have convergently evolved the ability to skim prey near the surface of the water, like the more distantly related balaenids. Because of their intermediate nature, understanding how sei whales switch between feeding behaviors may shed light on the rapid evolution and flexibility of filter-feeding strategies. We deployed multi-sensor bio-logging tags on two sei whales and measured the kinematics of feeding behaviors in this poorly understood and endangered species. To forage at the surface, sei whales used a unique combination of surface lunges and skim-feeding behaviors. The surface lunges were slow and stereotyped, and were unlike lunges performed by other rorqual species. The skim-feeding events featured a different filtration mechanism from the lunges and were kinematically different from the continuous filter feeding used by balaenids. While foraging below the surface, sei whales used faster and more variable lunges. The morphological characteristics that allow sei whales to effectively perform different feeding behaviors suggest that sei whales rapidly evolved their functionally intermediate and ecologically flexible form to compete with larger and more efficient rorqual species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo S. Segre
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | | | | | | | - Ari S. Friedlaender
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
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12
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Iwata T, Biuw M, Aoki K, Miller PJO, Sato K. Using an omnidirectional video logger to observe the underwater life of marine animals: Humpback whale resting behaviour. Behav Processes 2021; 186:104369. [PMID: 33640487 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Animal-borne video loggers are powerful tools for investigating animal behaviour because they directly record immediate and extended peripheral animal activities; however, typical video loggers capture only a limited area on one side of an animal being monitored owing to their narrow field of view. Here, we investigated the resting behaviour of humpback whales using an animal-borne omnidirectional video camera combined with a behavioural data logger. In the video logger footage, two non-tagged resting individuals, which did not spread their flippers or move their flukes, were observed above a tagged animal, representing an apparent bout of group resting. During the video logger recording, the swim speed was relatively slow (0.75 m s-1), and the tagged animal made only a few strokes of very low amplitude during drift diving. We report the drift dives as resting behaviour specific to baleen whales as same as seals, sperm whales and loggerhead turtles. Overall, our study shows that an omnidirectional video logger is a valuable tool for interpreting animal ecology with improved accuracy owing to its ability to record a wide field of view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Iwata
- Graduate School of Maritime Sciences, Kobe University, 5-1-1 Fukaeminami-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 658-0022, Japan; Ocean Policy Research Institute, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, 1-15-16 Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo, 105-8524, Japan; Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8564, Japan; Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9TS, UK.
| | - Martin Biuw
- Institute of Marine Research, P.O box, 6404, 9294, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Kagari Aoki
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8564, Japan
| | | | - Katsufumi Sato
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8564, Japan
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13
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Bestley S, Ropert-Coudert Y, Bengtson Nash S, Brooks CM, Cotté C, Dewar M, Friedlaender AS, Jackson JA, Labrousse S, Lowther AD, McMahon CR, Phillips RA, Pistorius P, Puskic PS, Reis AODA, Reisinger RR, Santos M, Tarszisz E, Tixier P, Trathan PN, Wege M, Wienecke B. Marine Ecosystem Assessment for the Southern Ocean: Birds and Marine Mammals in a Changing Climate. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.566936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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14
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Kahane-Rapport SR, Savoca MS, Cade DE, Segre PS, Bierlich KC, Calambokidis J, Dale J, Fahlbusch JA, Friedlaender AS, Johnston DW, Werth AJ, Goldbogen JA. Lunge filter feeding biomechanics constrain rorqual foraging ecology across scale. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb224196. [PMID: 32820028 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.224196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Fundamental scaling relationships influence the physiology of vital rates, which in turn shape the ecology and evolution of organisms. For diving mammals, benefits conferred by large body size include reduced transport costs and enhanced breath-holding capacity, thereby increasing overall foraging efficiency. Rorqual whales feed by engulfing a large mass of prey-laden water at high speed and filtering it through baleen plates. However, as engulfment capacity increases with body length (engulfment volume∝body length3.57), the surface area of the baleen filter does not increase proportionally (baleen area∝body length1.82), and thus the filtration time of larger rorquals predictably increases as the baleen surface area must filter a disproportionally large amount of water. We predicted that filtration time should scale with body length to the power of 1.75 (filter time∝body length1.75). We tested this hypothesis on four rorqual species using multi-sensor tags with corresponding unoccupied aircraft systems-based body length estimates. We found that filter time scales with body length to the power of 1.79 (95% CI: 1.61-1.97). This result highlights a scale-dependent trade-off between engulfment capacity and baleen area that creates a biomechanical constraint to foraging through increased filtration time. Consequently, larger whales must target high-density prey patches commensurate to the gulp size to meet their increased energetic demands. If these optimal patches are absent, larger rorquals may experience reduced foraging efficiency compared with smaller whales if they do not match their engulfment capacity to the size of targeted prey aggregations.
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Affiliation(s)
- S R Kahane-Rapport
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - M S Savoca
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - D E Cade
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - P S Segre
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - K C Bierlich
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC 27710, USA
| | - J Calambokidis
- Cascadia Research Collective, 218 W. 4th Ave., Olympia, WA 98501, USA
| | - J Dale
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC 27710, USA
| | - J A Fahlbusch
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - A S Friedlaender
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - D W Johnston
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC 27710, USA
| | - A J Werth
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA 23943, USA
| | - J A Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
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15
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Filun D, Thomisch K, Boebel O, Brey T, Širović A, Spiesecke S, Van Opzeeland I. Frozen verses: Antarctic minke whales ( Balaenoptera bonaerensis) call predominantly during austral winter. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:192112. [PMID: 33204440 PMCID: PMC7657898 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.192112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The recent identification of the bio-duck call as Antarctic minke whale (AMW) vocalization allows the use of passive acoustic monitoring to retrospectively investigate year-round spatial-temporal patterns in minke whale occurrence in ice-covered areas. Here, we present an analysis of AMW occurrence patterns based on a 9-year passive acoustic dataset (2008-2016) from 21 locations throughout the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean (Weddell Sea). AMWs were detected acoustically at all mooring locations from May to December, with the highest presence between August and November (bio-duck calls present at more than 80% of days). At the southernmost recording locations, the bio-duck call was present up to 10 months of the year. Substantial inter-annual variation in the seasonality of vocal activity correlated to variation in local ice concentration. Our analysis indicates that part of the AMW population stays in the Weddell Sea during austral winter. The period with the highest acoustic presence in the Weddell Sea (September-October) coincides with the timing of the breeding season of AMW in lower latitudes. The bio-duck call could therefore play a role in mating, although other behavioural functions of the call cannot be excluded to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Filun
- Ocean Acoustics Lab, Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
- Faculty of Biology/Chemistry, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Karolin Thomisch
- Ocean Acoustics Lab, Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Olaf Boebel
- Ocean Acoustics Lab, Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Thomas Brey
- Ocean Acoustics Lab, Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
- Faculty of Biology/Chemistry, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB), Carlvon Ossietzky University, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Ana Širović
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Stefanie Spiesecke
- Ocean Acoustics Lab, Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Ilse Van Opzeeland
- Ocean Acoustics Lab, Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB), Carlvon Ossietzky University, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
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16
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Drivers of concentrated predation in an Antarctic marginal-ice-zone food web. Sci Rep 2020; 10:7282. [PMID: 32350362 PMCID: PMC7190673 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63875-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Predators impact preyscapes (3-D distribution of forage species) by consuming prey according to their abilities or by altering prey behavior as they avoid being consumed. We elucidate prey (Antarctic silverfish[Pleuragramma antarctica] and crystal krill[Euphausia chrystallorophias]) responses to predation associated with the marginal ice zone (MIZ) of the McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, polynya. Prey abundance and habitat was sampled across a 30 × 15 km area by remotely-operated vehicle, and included locations that were accessible (ice edge) or inaccessible (solid fast ice) to air-breathing predators. Prey and habitat sampling coincided with bio-logging of Adélie penguins and observations of other air-breathing predators (penguins, seals, and whales), all of which were competing for the same prey. Adélie penguins dived deeper, and more frequently, near the ice edge. Lowered abundance of krill at the ice edge indicated they were depleted or were responding to increased predation and/or higher light levels along the ice edge. Penguin diet shifted increasingly to silverfish from krill during sampling, and was correlated with the arrival of krill-eating whales. Behaviorally-mediated, high trophic transfer characterizes the McMurdo Sound MIZ, and likely other MIZs, warranting more specific consideration in food web models and conservation efforts.
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17
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Goldbogen JA, Cade DE, Wisniewska DM, Potvin J, Segre PS, Savoca MS, Hazen EL, Czapanskiy MF, Kahane-Rapport SR, DeRuiter SL, Gero S, Tønnesen P, Gough WT, Hanson MB, Holt MM, Jensen FH, Simon M, Stimpert AK, Arranz P, Johnston DW, Nowacek DP, Parks SE, Visser F, Friedlaender AS, Tyack PL, Madsen PT, Pyenson ND. Why whales are big but not bigger: Physiological drivers and ecological limits in the age of ocean giants. Science 2020; 366:1367-1372. [PMID: 31831666 DOI: 10.1126/science.aax9044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The largest animals are marine filter feeders, but the underlying mechanism of their large size remains unexplained. We measured feeding performance and prey quality to demonstrate how whale gigantism is driven by the interplay of prey abundance and harvesting mechanisms that increase prey capture rates and energy intake. The foraging efficiency of toothed whales that feed on single prey is constrained by the abundance of large prey, whereas filter-feeding baleen whales seasonally exploit vast swarms of small prey at high efficiencies. Given temporally and spatially aggregated prey, filter feeding provides an evolutionary pathway to extremes in body size that are not available to lineages that must feed on one prey at a time. Maximum size in filter feeders is likely constrained by prey availability across space and time.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Goldbogen
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA.
| | - D E Cade
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - D M Wisniewska
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - J Potvin
- Department of Physics, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - P S Segre
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - M S Savoca
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - E L Hazen
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA.,Environmental Research Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Monterey, CA, USA.,Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - M F Czapanskiy
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - S R Kahane-Rapport
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - S L DeRuiter
- Mathematics and Statistics Department, Calvin University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - S Gero
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - P Tønnesen
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - W T Gough
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - M B Hanson
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - M M Holt
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - F H Jensen
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - M Simon
- Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - A K Stimpert
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, CA, USA
| | - P Arranz
- Biodiversity, Marine Ecology and Conservation Group, Department of Animal Biology, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Spain
| | - D W Johnston
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC, USA
| | - D P Nowacek
- Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - S E Parks
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - F Visser
- Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, IBED, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ and Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Kelp Marine Research, Hoorn, Netherlands
| | - A S Friedlaender
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - P L Tyack
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - P T Madsen
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - N D Pyenson
- Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Paleontology and Geology, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, WA, USA
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18
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Konishi K, Isoda T, Bando T, Minamikawa S, Kleivane L. Antarctic minke whales find ice gaps along the ice edge in foraging grounds of the Indo-Pacific sector (60° E and 140° E) of the Southern Ocean. Polar Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-020-02638-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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19
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Helble TA, Guazzo RA, Martin CR, Durbach IN, Alongi GC, Martin SW, Boyle JK, Henderson EE. Lombard effect: Minke whale boing call source levels vary with natural variations in ocean noise. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 147:698. [PMID: 32113274 DOI: 10.1121/10.0000596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Minke whales were acoustically detected, localized, and tracked on the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility from 2012 to 2017. Animal source levels (SLs) were estimated by adding transmission loss estimates to measured received levels of 42 159 individual minke whale boings. Minke whales off Hawaii exhibited the Lombard effect in that they increased their boing call intensity in increased background noise. Minke whales also decreased the variance of the boing call SL in higher background noise levels. Although the whales partially compensated for increasing background noise, they were unable or unwilling to increase their SLs by the same amount as the background noise. As oceans become louder, this reduction in communication space could negatively impact the health of minke whale populations. The findings in this study also have important implications for acoustic animal density studies, which may use SL to estimate probability of detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler A Helble
- Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California 92152, USA
| | - Regina A Guazzo
- Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California 92152, USA
| | - Cameron R Martin
- Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California 92152, USA
| | - Ian N Durbach
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Saint Andrews, United Kingdom
| | | | - Stephen W Martin
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, California 92106, USA
| | - John K Boyle
- Applied Ocean Sciences, Fairfax Station, Virginia, 22039, USA
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20
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Miller EJ, Potts JM, Cox MJ, Miller BS, Calderan S, Leaper R, Olson PA, O'Driscoll RL, Double MC. The characteristics of krill swarms in relation to aggregating Antarctic blue whales. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16487. [PMID: 31712639 PMCID: PMC6848198 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52792-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
We model the presence of rare Antarctic blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia) in relation to the swarm characteristics of their main prey species, Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba). A combination of visual observations and recent advances in passive acoustic technology were used to locate Antarctic blue whales, whilst simultaneously using active underwater acoustics to characterise the distribution, size, depth, composition and density of krill swarms. Krill swarm characteristics and blue whale presence were examined at a range of spatiotemporal scales to investigate sub meso-scale (i.e., <100 km) foraging behaviour. Results suggest that at all scales, Antarctic blue whales are more likely to be detected within the vicinity of krill swarms with a higher density of krill, those found shallower in the water column, and those of greater vertical height. These findings support hypotheses that as lunge-feeders of extreme size, Antarctic blue whales target shallow, dense krill swarms to maximise their energy intake. As both Antarctic krill and blue whales play a key role in the Southern Ocean ecosystem, the nature of their predator-prey dynamics is an important consideration, not only for the recovery of this endangered species in a changing environment, but for the future management of Antarctic krill fisheries.
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Affiliation(s)
- E J Miller
- Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania, Australia. .,E Miller Consulting, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
| | - J M Potts
- The Analytical Edge, PO Box 47, Blackmans Bay, Tasmania, Australia
| | - M J Cox
- Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania, Australia
| | - B S Miller
- Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania, Australia
| | - S Calderan
- Scottish Association for Marine Science, University of the Highlands and Islands, Oban, Argyll, UK
| | - R Leaper
- International Fund for Animal Welfare, 87-90 Albert Embankment, Lambeth, London, UK
| | - P A Olson
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - R L O'Driscoll
- National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Limited, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - M C Double
- Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania, Australia
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21
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Friedlaender AS, Bowers MT, Cade D, Hazen EL, Stimpert AK, Allen AN, Calambokidis J, Fahlbusch J, Segre P, Visser F, Southall BL, Goldbogen JA. The advantages of diving deep: Fin whales quadruple their energy intake when targeting deep krill patches. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ari S. Friedlaender
- Department of Ocean Sciences and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Institute for Marine Sciences University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz CA USA
- Southall Environmental Associates Aptos CA USA
| | - Matthew T. Bowers
- Southall Environmental Associates Aptos CA USA
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USA
| | - David Cade
- Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University Pacific Grove CA USA
| | - Elliott L. Hazen
- Department of Ocean Sciences and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Institute for Marine Sciences University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz CA USA
- NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center Monterey CA USA
| | | | - Ann N. Allen
- NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Honolulu HI USA
| | | | - James Fahlbusch
- Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University Pacific Grove CA USA
- Cascadia Research Collective Cascadia WA USA
| | - Paolo Segre
- Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University Pacific Grove CA USA
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22
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Abstract
The largest animals are baleen filter feeders that exploit large aggregations of small-bodied plankton. Although this feeding mechanism has evolved multiple times in marine vertebrates, rorqual whales exhibit a distinct lunge filter feeding mode that requires extreme physiological adaptations-most of which remain poorly understood. Here, we review the biomechanics of the lunge feeding mechanism in rorqual whales that underlies their extraordinary foraging performance and gigantic body size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert E Shadwick
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jean Potvin
- Department of Physics, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Jeremy A Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California
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23
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Burkhardt-Holm P, N'Guyen A. Ingestion of microplastics by fish and other prey organisms of cetaceans, exemplified for two large baleen whale species. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 144:224-234. [PMID: 31179992 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.04.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge on microplastic (MP) ingestion by cetaceans is difficult to obtain. We infer the potential for MP uptake by cetaceans from the occurrence of MP in prey species. First, we reviewed information on whale prey species, focussing on common minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and sei whale (B. borealis), for which the most comprehensive quantitative datasets exist. Second, evidence of MP ingestion by their prey species was reviewed. We found common minke whales forage opportunistically on fish from various families: Ammodytidae, Clupeidae, Gadidae, Engraulidae and Osmeridae. Sei whales mostly feed on copepods, Engraulidae, Clupeidae and Scombridae. High levels of MP contamination are reported for Scombridae in the Atlantic and Engraulidae in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. Copepods exhibit low levels of MP ingestion in the Northeast Pacific Ocean. Species-specific prey preferences and feeding strategies imply different cetaceans have varied potential for MP uptake, even if they feed in similar geographic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Burkhardt-Holm
- Programm MGU, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, 4051 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - A N'Guyen
- Programm MGU, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
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24
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Herr H, Kelly N, Dorschel B, Huntemann M, Kock K, Lehnert LS, Siebert U, Viquerat S, Williams R, Scheidat M. Aerial surveys for Antarctic minke whales ( Balaenoptera bonaerensis) reveal sea ice dependent distribution patterns. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:5664-5682. [PMID: 31160989 PMCID: PMC6540710 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigates the distribution of Antarctic minke whales (AMW) in relation to sea ice concentration and variations therein. Information on AMW densities in the sea ice-covered parts of the Southern Ocean is required to contextualize abundance estimates obtained from circumpolar shipboard surveys in open waters, suggesting a 30% decline in AMW abundance. Conventional line-transect shipboard surveys for density estimation are impossible in ice-covered regions, therefore we used icebreaker-supported helicopter surveys to obtain information on AMW densities along gradients of 0%-100% of ice concentration. We conducted five helicopter surveys in the Southern Ocean, between 2006 and 2013. Distance sampling data, satellite-derived sea-ice data, and bathymetric parameters were used in generalized additive models (GAMs) to produce predictions on how the density of AMWs varied over space and time, and with environmental covariates. Ice concentration, distance to the ice edge and distance from the shelf break were found to describe the distribution of AMWs. Highest densities were predicted at the ice edge and through to medium ice concentrations. Medium densities were found up to 500 km into the ice edge in all concentrations of ice. Very low numbers of AMWs were found in the ice-free waters of the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP). A consistent relationship between AMW distribution and sea ice concentration weakens the support for the hypothesis that varying numbers of AMWs in ice-covered waters were responsible for observed changes in estimated abundance. The potential decline in AMW abundance stresses the need for conservation measures and further studies into the AMW population status. Very low numbers of AMWs recorded in the ice-free waters along the WAP support the hypothesis that this species is strongly dependent on sea ice and that forecasted sea ice changes have the potential of heavily impacting AMWs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Herr
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife ResearchUniversity of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, FoundationBuesumGermany
- Present address:
Center of Natural History (CeNak)University of HamburgHamburgGermany
| | - Natalie Kelly
- CSIRO Mathematical and Information SciencesHobartTasmaniaAustralia
- Present address:
Australian Antarctic DivisionKingstonTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Boris Dorschel
- Alfred Wegener InstituteHelmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine ResearchBremerhavenGermany
| | - Marcus Huntemann
- Alfred Wegener InstituteHelmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine ResearchBremerhavenGermany
- Institute of Environmental PhysicsUniversity of BremenBremenGermany
| | - Karl‐Hermann Kock
- von Thünen InstituteInstitute of Sea FisheriesBremerhavenGermany
- Present address:
Kiefernweg 11a22949AmmersbekGermany
| | - Linn Sophia Lehnert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife ResearchUniversity of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, FoundationBuesumGermany
- von Thünen InstituteInstitute of Sea FisheriesBremerhavenGermany
- Present address:
Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW)BerlinGermany
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife ResearchUniversity of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, FoundationBuesumGermany
| | - Sacha Viquerat
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife ResearchUniversity of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, FoundationBuesumGermany
- Present address:
Center of Natural History (CeNak)University of HamburgHamburgGermany
| | - Rob Williams
- Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation, Oceans InitiativeSeattleWashington
| | - Meike Scheidat
- Wageningen Marine ResearchWageningen University and ResearchIJmuidenThe Netherlands
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25
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Southall BL, DeRuiter SL, Friedlaender A, Stimpert AK, Goldbogen JA, Hazen E, Casey C, Fregosi S, Cade DE, Allen AN, Harris CM, Schorr G, Moretti D, Guan S, Calambokidis J. Behavioral responses of individual blue whales ( Balaenoptera musculus) to mid-frequency military sonar. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 222:222/5/jeb190637. [PMID: 30833464 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.190637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
This study measured the degree of behavioral responses in blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) to controlled noise exposure off the southern California coast. High-resolution movement and passive acoustic data were obtained from non-invasive archival tags (n=42) whereas surface positions were obtained with visual focal follows. Controlled exposure experiments (CEEs) were used to obtain direct behavioral measurements before, during and after simulated and operational military mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS), pseudorandom noise (PRN) and controls (no noise exposure). For a subset of deep-feeding animals (n=21), active acoustic measurements of prey were obtained and used as contextual covariates in response analyses. To investigate potential behavioral changes within individuals as a function of controlled noise exposure conditions, two parallel analyses of time-series data for selected behavioral parameters (e.g. diving, horizontal movement and feeding) were conducted. This included expert scoring of responses according to a specified behavioral severity rating paradigm and quantitative change-point analyses using Mahalanobis distance statistics. Both methods identified clear changes in some conditions. More than 50% of blue whales in deep-feeding states responded during CEEs, whereas no changes in behavior were identified in shallow-feeding blue whales. Overall, responses were generally brief, of low to moderate severity, and highly dependent on exposure context such as behavioral state, source-to-whale horizontal range and prey availability. Response probability did not follow a simple exposure-response model based on received exposure level. These results, in combination with additional analytical methods to investigate different aspects of potential responses within and among individuals, provide a comprehensive evaluation of how free-ranging blue whales responded to mid-frequency military sonar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon L Southall
- Southall Environmental Associates (SEA), Inc., Aptos, CA 95003, USA .,Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Stacy L DeRuiter
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA
| | - Ari Friedlaender
- Southall Environmental Associates (SEA), Inc., Aptos, CA 95003, USA.,Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA.,Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR, 97365, USA
| | - Alison K Stimpert
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, San Jose State University, Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA
| | - Jeremy A Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - Elliott Hazen
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA.,NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Monterey, CA 93940, USA
| | - Caroline Casey
- Southall Environmental Associates (SEA), Inc., Aptos, CA 95003, USA.,Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Selene Fregosi
- Southall Environmental Associates (SEA), Inc., Aptos, CA 95003, USA.,Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR, 97365, USA
| | - David E Cade
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - Ann N Allen
- Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, WA 98501, USA
| | - Catriona M Harris
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9LZ, UK
| | - Greg Schorr
- Marine Ecology and Telemetry Research, Seabeck, WA 98380, USA
| | - David Moretti
- Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport, RI 02841, USA
| | - Shane Guan
- Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
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26
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Kahane‐Rapport SR, Goldbogen JA. Allometric scaling of morphology and engulfment capacity in rorqual whales. J Morphol 2018; 279:1256-1268. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shirel R. Kahane‐Rapport
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University 120 Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove California
| | - Jeremy A. Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University 120 Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove California
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27
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Werth AJ, Potvin J, Shadwick RE, Jensen MM, Cade DE, Goldbogen JA. Filtration area scaling and evolution in mysticetes: trophic niche partitioning and the curious cases of sei and pygmy right whales. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/bly121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J Werth
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA, USA
| | - Jean Potvin
- Department of Physics, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Robert E Shadwick
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
| | - Megan M Jensen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - David E Cade
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - Jeremy A Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
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28
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Goldbogen JA, Madsen PT. The evolution of foraging capacity and gigantism in cetaceans. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:221/11/jeb166033. [PMID: 29895582 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.166033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The extant diversity and rich fossil record of cetaceans provides an extraordinary evolutionary context for investigating the relationship between form, function and ecology. The transition from terrestrial to marine ecosystems is associated with a complex suite of morphological and physiological adaptations that were required for a fully aquatic mammalian life history. Two specific functional innovations that characterize the two great clades of cetaceans, echolocation in toothed whales (Odontoceti) and filter feeding in baleen whales (Mysticeti), provide a powerful comparative framework for integrative studies. Both clades exhibit gigantism in multiple species, but we posit that large body size may have evolved for different reasons and in response to different ecosystem conditions. Although these foraging adaptations have been studied using a combination of experimental and tagging studies, the precise functional drivers and consequences of morphological change within and among these lineages remain less understood. Future studies that focus at the interface of physiology, ecology and paleontology will help elucidate how cetaceans became the largest predators in aquatic ecosystems worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Boulevard, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - P T Madsen
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, C.F. Møllers Allé 3, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.,Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 6B, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
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29
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30
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Ishii M, Murase H, Fukuda Y, Sawada K, Sasakura T, Tamura T, Bando T, Matsuoka K, Shinohara A, Nakatsuka S, Katsumata N, Okazaki M, Miyashita K, Mitani Y. Diving Behavior of Sei WhalesBalaenoptera borealisRelative to the Vertical Distribution of Their Potential Prey. MAMMAL STUDY 2017. [DOI: 10.3106/041.042.0403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Midori Ishii
- Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, 20-5 Benten-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0051, Japan
| | - Hiroto Murase
- National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 2-12-4 Fukuura, Kanazawa, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-8648, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Fukuda
- National Research Institute of Fisheries Engineering, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 7620-7 Hasaki, Kamisu, Ibaraki 314-0408, Japan
| | - Kouichi Sawada
- National Research Institute of Fisheries Engineering, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 7620-7 Hasaki, Kamisu, Ibaraki 314-0408, Japan
| | - Toyoki Sasakura
- Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7, Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Tamura
- The Institute of Cetacean Research, 4-5, Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0055, Japan
| | - Takeharu Bando
- The Institute of Cetacean Research, 4-5, Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0055, Japan
| | - Koji Matsuoka
- The Institute of Cetacean Research, 4-5, Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0055, Japan
| | - Akira Shinohara
- Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, 20-5 Benten-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0051, Japan
| | - Sayaka Nakatsuka
- National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 5-7-1 Orido, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka 424-8633, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Katsumata
- National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 5-7-1 Orido, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka 424-8633, Japan
| | - Makoto Okazaki
- National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 2-12-4 Fukuura, Kanazawa, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-8648, Japan
| | - Kazushi Miyashita
- Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, 20-5 Benten-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0051, Japan
| | - Yoko Mitani
- Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, 20-5 Benten-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0051, Japan
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31
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Kvadsheim PH, DeRuiter S, Sivle LD, Goldbogen J, Roland-Hansen R, Miller PJO, Lam FPA, Calambokidis J, Friedlaender A, Visser F, Tyack PL, Kleivane L, Southall B. Avoidance responses of minke whales to 1-4kHz naval sonar. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2017; 121:60-68. [PMID: 28552251 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.05.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Revised: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Minke whales are difficult to study and little information exists regarding their responses to anthropogenic sound. This study pools data from behavioural response studies off California and Norway. Data are derived from four tagged animals, of which one from each location was exposed to naval sonar signals. Statistical analyses were conducted using Mahalanobis distance to compare overall changes in parameters summarising dive behaviour, avoidance behaviour, and potential energetic costs of disturbance. Our quantitative analysis showed that both animals initiated avoidance behaviour, but responses were not associated with unusual dive behaviour. In one exposed animal the avoidance of the sonar source included a 5-fold increase in horizontal speed away from the source, implying a significant increase in metabolic rate. Despite the different environmental settings and exposure contexts, clear changes in behaviour were observed providing the first insights into the nature of responses to human noise for this wide-ranging species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stacy DeRuiter
- Calvin College, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4301, USA
| | - Lise D Sivle
- Institute of Marine Research (IMR), NO-5817 Bergen, Norway
| | - Jeremy Goldbogen
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | | | - Patrick J O Miller
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9LB, UK
| | - Frans-Peter A Lam
- Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), The Hague, The Netherlands
| | | | - Ari Friedlaender
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, 2030 Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, USA; Southall Environmental Associates Inc., Aptos, CA 95003, USA
| | - Fleur Visser
- Kelp Marine Research (KMR), 1624 CJ Hoorn, The Netherlands; Behavioural Biology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Peter L Tyack
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9LB, UK
| | - Lars Kleivane
- Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), NO-3191 Horten, Norway
| | - Brandon Southall
- Southall Environmental Associates Inc., Aptos, CA 95003, USA; Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz, Institute of Marine Sciences, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
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32
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Spatio-temporal occurrence patterns of cetaceans near Ross Island, Antarctica, 2002–2015: implications for food web dynamics. Polar Biol 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-017-2100-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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33
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Goldbogen JA, Cade DE, Calambokidis J, Friedlaender AS, Potvin J, Segre PS, Werth AJ. How Baleen Whales Feed: The Biomechanics of Engulfment and Filtration. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE 2017; 9:367-386. [PMID: 27620830 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-122414-033905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Baleen whales are gigantic obligate filter feeders that exploit aggregations of small-bodied prey in littoral, epipelagic, and mesopelagic ecosystems. At the extreme of maximum body size observed among mammals, baleen whales exhibit a unique combination of high overall energetic demands and low mass-specific metabolic rates. As a result, most baleen whale species have evolved filter-feeding mechanisms and foraging strategies that take advantage of seasonally abundant yet patchily and ephemerally distributed prey resources. New methodologies consisting of multi-sensor tags, active acoustic prey mapping, and hydrodynamic modeling have revolutionized our ability to study the physiology and ecology of baleen whale feeding mechanisms. Here, we review the current state of the field by exploring several hypotheses that aim to explain how baleen whales feed. Despite significant advances, major questions remain about the processes that underlie these extreme feeding mechanisms, which enabled the evolution of the largest animals of all time.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California 93950; , ,
| | - D E Cade
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California 93950; , ,
| | - J Calambokidis
- Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, Washington 98501;
| | - A S Friedlaender
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, Oregon 97365;
| | - J Potvin
- Department of Physics, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri 63103;
| | - P S Segre
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California 93950; , ,
| | - A J Werth
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, Virginia 23943;
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34
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Menze S, Zitterbart DP, van Opzeeland I, Boebel O. The influence of sea ice, wind speed and marine mammals on Southern Ocean ambient sound. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2017. [PMID: 28280544 DOI: 10.5061/dryad.83s93] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
This paper describes the natural variability of ambient sound in the Southern Ocean, an acoustically pristine marine mammal habitat. Over a 3-year period, two autonomous recorders were moored along the Greenwich meridian to collect underwater passive acoustic data. Ambient sound levels were strongly affected by the annual variation of the sea-ice cover, which decouples local wind speed and sound levels during austral winter. With increasing sea-ice concentration, area and thickness, sound levels decreased while the contribution of distant sources increased. Marine mammal sounds formed a substantial part of the overall acoustic environment, comprising calls produced by Antarctic blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia), fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) and leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx). The combined sound energy of a group or population vocalizing during extended periods contributed species-specific peaks to the ambient sound spectra. The temporal and spatial variation in the contribution of marine mammals to ambient sound suggests annual patterns in migration and behaviour. The Antarctic blue and fin whale contributions were loudest in austral autumn, whereas the Antarctic minke whale contribution was loudest during austral winter and repeatedly showed a diel pattern that coincided with the diel vertical migration of zooplankton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Menze
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany; Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway
| | - Daniel P Zitterbart
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany; Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA; Biophysics Group, Department of Physics, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ilse van Opzeeland
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research , Bremerhaven , Germany
| | - Olaf Boebel
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research , Bremerhaven , Germany
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35
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Menze S, Zitterbart DP, van Opzeeland I, Boebel O. The influence of sea ice, wind speed and marine mammals on Southern Ocean ambient sound. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2017; 4:160370. [PMID: 28280544 PMCID: PMC5319310 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
This paper describes the natural variability of ambient sound in the Southern Ocean, an acoustically pristine marine mammal habitat. Over a 3-year period, two autonomous recorders were moored along the Greenwich meridian to collect underwater passive acoustic data. Ambient sound levels were strongly affected by the annual variation of the sea-ice cover, which decouples local wind speed and sound levels during austral winter. With increasing sea-ice concentration, area and thickness, sound levels decreased while the contribution of distant sources increased. Marine mammal sounds formed a substantial part of the overall acoustic environment, comprising calls produced by Antarctic blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia), fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) and leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx). The combined sound energy of a group or population vocalizing during extended periods contributed species-specific peaks to the ambient sound spectra. The temporal and spatial variation in the contribution of marine mammals to ambient sound suggests annual patterns in migration and behaviour. The Antarctic blue and fin whale contributions were loudest in austral autumn, whereas the Antarctic minke whale contribution was loudest during austral winter and repeatedly showed a diel pattern that coincided with the diel vertical migration of zooplankton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Menze
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
- Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway
| | - Daniel P. Zitterbart
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
- Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
- Biophysics Group, Department of Physics, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ilse van Opzeeland
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Olaf Boebel
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
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36
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Friedlaender AS, Johnston DW, Tyson RB, Kaltenberg A, Goldbogen JA, Stimpert AK, Curtice C, Hazen EL, Halpin PN, Read AJ, Nowacek DP. Multiple-stage decisions in a marine central-place forager. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2016; 3:160043. [PMID: 27293784 PMCID: PMC4892446 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Accepted: 04/08/2016] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Air-breathing marine animals face a complex set of physical challenges associated with diving that affect the decisions of how to optimize feeding. Baleen whales (Mysticeti) have evolved bulk-filter feeding mechanisms to efficiently feed on dense prey patches. Baleen whales are central place foragers where oxygen at the surface represents the central place and depth acts as the distance to prey. Although hypothesized that baleen whales will target the densest prey patches anywhere in the water column, how depth and density interact to influence foraging behaviour is poorly understood. We used multi-sensor archival tags and active acoustics to quantify Antarctic humpback whale foraging behaviour relative to prey. Our analyses reveal multi-stage foraging decisions driven by both krill depth and density. During daylight hours when whales did not feed, krill were found in deep high-density patches. As krill migrated vertically into larger and less dense patches near the surface, whales began to forage. During foraging bouts, we found that feeding rates (number of feeding lunges per hour) were greatest when prey was shallowest, and feeding rates decreased with increasing dive depth. This strategy is consistent with previous models of how air-breathing diving animals optimize foraging efficiency. Thus, humpback whales forage mainly when prey is more broadly distributed and shallower, presumably to minimize diving and searching costs and to increase feeding rates overall and thus foraging efficiency. Using direct measurements of feeding behaviour from animal-borne tags and prey availability from echosounders, our study demonstrates a multi-stage foraging process in a central place forager that we suggest acts to optimize overall efficiency by maximizing net energy gain over time. These data reveal a previously unrecognized level of complexity in predator-prey interactions and underscores the need to simultaneously measure prey distribution in marine central place forager studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ari S. Friedlaender
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR, USA
| | - David W. Johnston
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC, USA
| | - Reny B. Tyson
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC, USA
| | | | - Jeremy A. Goldbogen
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | | | - Corrie Curtice
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC, USA
| | | | - Patrick N. Halpin
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC, USA
| | - Andrew J. Read
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC, USA
| | - Douglas P. Nowacek
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC, USA
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37
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The Importance of Krill Predation in the Southern Ocean. BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF ANTARCTIC KRILL 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-29279-3_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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38
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Goldbogen JA, Shadwick RE, Lillie MA, Piscitelli MA, Potvin J, Pyenson ND, Vogl AW. Using morphology to infer physiology: case studies on rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae). CAN J ZOOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2014-0311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Whales are important model systems for understanding the physiological and ecological consequences of extreme body size. However, whales are also some of the most difficult animals to study because their large size precludes experimental studies under controlled conditions. Here we review a wide range of morphological studies that enable greater inference of physiological processes. In particular, we focus on baleen whales that exhibit extensive diving and foraging adaptations. Using morphological data, we (i) explore the biomechanics and sensory physiology of lunge-feeding rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae), (ii) determine the effects of scale and diving pressures on the circulatory physiology of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus (L., 1758)), and (iii) better understand the adaptations of the cetacean respiratory system that facilitate a fully aquatic life history. These studies underscore the value of understanding functional morphology in animals that cannot be studied using traditional laboratory techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert E. Shadwick
- Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Margo A. Lillie
- Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Marina A. Piscitelli
- Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Jean Potvin
- Department of Physics, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA
| | - Nicholas D. Pyenson
- Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013-7012, USA
| | - A. Wayne Vogl
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
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39
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Christiansen F, Lynas NM, Lusseau D, Tscherter U. Structure and dynamics of minke whale surfacing patterns in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0126396. [PMID: 25970425 PMCID: PMC4430536 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal behavioral patterns can help us understand physiological and ecological constraints on animals and its influence on fitness. The surfacing patterns of aquatic air-breathing mammals constitute a behavioral pattern that has evolved as a trade-off between the need to replenish oxygen stores at the surface and the need to conduct other activities underwater. This study aims to better understand the surfacing pattern of a marine top predator, the minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), by investigating how their dive duration and surfacing pattern changes across their activity range. Activities were classified into resting, traveling, surface feeding and foraging at depth. For each activity, we classified dives into short and long dives and then estimated the temporal dependence between dive types. We found that minke whales modified their surfacing pattern in an activity-specific manner, both by changing the expression of their dives (i.e. density distribution) and the temporal dependence (transition probability) between dive types. As the depth of the prey layer increased between activities, the surfacing pattern of foraging whales became increasingly structured, going from a pattern dominated by long dives, when feeding at the surface, to a pattern where isolated long dives were followed by an increasing number of breaths (i.e. short dives), when the whale was foraging at depth. A similar shift in surfacing pattern occurred when prey handling time (inferred from surface corralling maneuvers) increased for surface feeding whales. The surfacing pattern also differed between feeding and non-feeding whales. Resting whales did not structure their surfacing pattern, while traveling whales did, possibly as a way to minimize cost of transport. Our results also suggest that minke whales might balance their oxygen level over multiple, rather than single, dive cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrik Christiansen
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia
- Foundation for Marine Environment Research (ORES), Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ned M. Lynas
- Foundation for Marine Environment Research (ORES), Basel, Switzerland
- Ocean Research and Education Society (ORES), Les Bergeronnes, Quebec, Canada
| | - David Lusseau
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Institute of Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Ursula Tscherter
- Foundation for Marine Environment Research (ORES), Basel, Switzerland
- Ocean Research and Education Society (ORES), Les Bergeronnes, Quebec, Canada
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40
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Goldbogen JA, Hazen EL, Friedlaender AS, Calambokidis J, DeRuiter SL, Stimpert AK, Southall BL. Prey density and distribution drive the three‐dimensional foraging strategies of the largest filter feeder. Funct Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy A. Goldbogen
- Department of Biology Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University Pacific Grove California 93950 USA
| | - Elliott L. Hazen
- NOAA/NMFS/SWFSC/Environmental Research Division Pacific Grove California 93950 USA
| | - Ari S. Friedlaender
- Marine Mammal Institute Hatfield Marine Science Center Oregon State University Newport Oregon 97365 USA
| | - John Calambokidis
- Cascadia Research Collective 218 1/2 W. 4th AvenueOlympia Washington 98501 USA
| | | | - Alison K. Stimpert
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories 8272 Moss Landing RoadMoss Landing California 95039 USA
| | - Brandon L. Southall
- Southall Environmental Associates Inc. 9099 Soquel Drive, Suite 8 Aptos California 95003 USA
- Long Marine Laboratory University of California Institute of Marine Sciences 100 Shaffer Road Santa Cruz California 95060 USA
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41
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Knight K. Minke whales lunge to feed under sea ice. J Exp Biol 2014. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.111567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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42
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Risch D, Gales NJ, Gedamke J, Kindermann L, Nowacek DP, Read AJ, Siebert U, Van Opzeeland IC, Van Parijs SM, Friedlaender AS. Mysterious bio-duck sound attributed to the Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis). Biol Lett 2014; 10:20140175. [PMID: 24759372 PMCID: PMC4013705 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2014.0175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
For decades, the bio-duck sound has been recorded in the Southern Ocean, but the animal producing it has remained a mystery. Heard mainly during austral winter in the Southern Ocean, this ubiquitous sound has been recorded in Antarctic waters and contemporaneously off the Australian west coast. Here, we present conclusive evidence that the bio-duck sound is produced by Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis). We analysed data from multi-sensor acoustic recording tags that included intense bio-duck sounds as well as singular downsweeps that have previously been attributed to this species. This finding allows the interpretation of a wealth of long-term acoustic recordings for this previously acoustically concealed species, which will improve our understanding of the distribution, abundance and behaviour of Antarctic minke whales. This is critical information for a species that inhabits a difficult to access sea-ice environment that is changing rapidly in some regions and has been the subject of contentious lethal sampling efforts and ongoing international legal action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Risch
- Integrated Statistics, , 172 Shearwater Way, Falmouth, MA 02540, USA
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43
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Williams R, Kelly N, Boebel O, Friedlaender AS, Herr H, Kock KH, Lehnert LS, Maksym T, Roberts J, Scheidat M, Siebert U, Brierley AS. Counting whales in a challenging, changing environment. Sci Rep 2014; 4:4170. [PMID: 24622821 PMCID: PMC3952195 DOI: 10.1038/srep04170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2013] [Accepted: 02/04/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Estimating abundance of Antarctic minke whales is central to the International Whaling Commission's conservation and management work and understanding impacts of climate change on polar marine ecosystems. Detecting abundance trends is problematic, in part because minke whales are frequently sighted within Antarctic sea ice where navigational safety concerns prevent ships from surveying. Using icebreaker-supported helicopters, we conducted aerial surveys across a gradient of ice conditions to estimate minke whale density in the Weddell Sea. The surveys revealed substantial numbers of whales inside the sea ice. The Antarctic summer sea ice is undergoing rapid regional change in annual extent, distribution, and length of ice-covered season. These trends, along with substantial interannual variability in ice conditions, affect the proportion of whales available to be counted by traditional shipboard surveys. The strong association between whales and the dynamic, changing sea ice requires reexamination of the power to detect trends in whale abundance or predict ecosystem responses to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Williams
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 8LB, UK
| | - N Kelly
- 1] CSIRO Computational Informatics and Wealth from Oceans Flagship, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia [2] Australian Marine Mammal Centre, Kingston, Tasmania, 7050, Australia
| | - O Boebel
- Alfred Wegener Institute, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - A S Friedlaender
- 1] Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA [2]
| | - H Herr
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buesum, Germany
| | - K-H Kock
- Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Institute of Sea Fisheries, Hamburg, Germany
| | - L S Lehnert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buesum, Germany
| | - T Maksym
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
| | - J Roberts
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - M Scheidat
- IMARES, Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies, 1970 AB IJmuiden, The Netherlands
| | - U Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buesum, Germany
| | - A S Brierley
- Pelagic Ecology Research Group, Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, Scotland UK
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