Articles tagged with Whales
A recent study published in PLOS One reveals that North Atlantic right whales spend an average of 11.4 hours per day feeding, with a significant portion of that time spent feeding at night near the surface. This behavior was previously unknown and may reduce the effectiveness of conservation protection measures.
Researchers combined narwhal measurements with historical oceanographic data to build a robust model showing how temperature, salinity, and depth are related. The study found that warm Atlantic Intermediate Water has become thicker, accelerating glacier melting and influencing ocean circulation and climate patterns.
Baleen whales are taking advantage of the warming Greenland Sea, with regular feeding frenzies observed in recent years. The abundance of whales has increased significantly, with over 4,000 humpback whales, 6,000 fin whales, and 6,000 minke whales visiting the region in 2024.
Researchers use advanced 3D X-ray techniques to determine how narwhal's tusk acquires its twisted structure, revealing a double-spiral structure with a biological counterbalance. The discovery provides new insight into how nature constructs advanced materials with extreme mechanical properties.
Researchers have discovered a wave-interference effect that makes sound energy appear to outrun fundamental limits without breaking physics. This finding could improve whale tracking by pinpointing the location of whales based on the phase of their calls.
Researchers found that male sperm whales emit slow, low-frequency clicks with extremely high source levels, which can be heard up to 70 kilometers away. These clicks are not used for echolocation but may serve as a form of communication or advertisement, potentially linking to honest signals of size.
Researchers found that sperm whales blowing bubbles while asleep release air, making them less buoyant in the process. This helps them stay underwater without popping to the surface like a cork as they sleep.
Researchers documented a previously undescribed orca behavior in the Gulf of California, where orcas hold and then ram sunfish to cause tissue fragmentation. The observed behavior may be a form of parental investment or simply entertainment, with potential benefits for the calf's nutrition.
Research found that krill can clog the baleen of filter-feeding whales, slowing water ejection rates to 0.02m/s. To maintain optimal feeding speeds, whales must prevent krill accumulation on their baleen or keep it suspended in their mouths.
Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding the diets of southern right whales, discovering they eat a wider variety of seafood than previously thought. Analysis of whale poo from around the world has revealed a diverse diet including crabs, shrimp, and jellyfish, which may help them adapt to climate change.
Scientists have discovered a way to track whales using fiber-optic cables by detecting low-frequency pressure waves generated by their movement. This method allows researchers to identify whale tracks even when the animals are not vocalizing, expanding their capabilities for remote sensing applications.
Researchers found that Bigg's killer whales are increasingly present in Puget Sound, while southern resident killer whales are spending less time in inland waters. The data suggests that social cues may play a role in the changing distribution of southern residents.
Researchers analyzed 44 years of killer whale data in Washington state, finding a decline in the presence of endangered fish-eating killer whales. In contrast, populations of Bigg's killer whales, which prey on seals and other whales, are becoming more abundant.
Researchers tracked Arabian Sea humpback whales' movements, revealing the first direct evidence of a whale crossing the Arabian Sea. The study found that these whales have adapted to their habitat in a unique way, deviating from traditional migration patterns.
Transient killer whales, humpback whales, and grey whales are spotted in the Salish Sea due to seasonal feeding and conservation efforts. Researchers attribute this increase to improved fisheries management, reduced whaling, and increased seal populations, allowing whales to thrive in their ancestral habitats.
Researchers used an AI model to detect Bryde's whale calls in seismic data collected in the South China Sea. The model achieved high accuracy, detecting calls over 96% of the time and identifying seasonal variations in whale behavior.
Researchers at Kyoto University used visual survey data to predict the most suitable habitats for humpback whales around Chichijima Island. The analysis revealed shallow water depths with gentle slopes as critical areas, supporting conservation efforts in the Ogasawara waters.
Researchers tracked 68 Hawaiʻi false killer whales using drone photogrammetry, finding extreme physiological shifts and a record low Body Condition Index. The population's decline coincides with rising ocean temperatures, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to ensure the species' long-term survival.
A case study of captive belugas reveals evidence of mirror self-recognition, suggesting this behavior may be innate in the species. The findings support the idea that some cetaceans possess cognitive abilities similar to those of humans and other animals.
Researchers observed a whale skeleton over 15 years and found that it supported a sulphophilic community on the seafloor. This community persisted for more than 20 years, demonstrating the long-term importance of whalefalls in deep-sea ecosystems.
Researchers at the University of Washington decoded over 1,700 beluga whale calls in Cook Inlet, revealing insights into their social behavior, communication patterns, and vulnerability to human noise. The study suggests that shipping noise may be disrupting critical calf-mother communication, threatening the population's recovery.
Researchers analyzed hormones stored in Rice's whale baleen to understand its life story. The study found evidence of stress and reproductive patterns, shedding light on the species' critically endangered status.
An international study has found bowhead whales are recovering in stocks where large areas of hazardous sea ice conditions limited whaling centuries ago. This provides important natural sanctuaries for the species, allowing populations to recover more quickly today.
A new study by UNSW researchers shows how a neural network can detect blue whale songs with remarkable accuracy, using only one recording of a blue whale call. The model performed well on real-world recordings, even those that were not part of the training data.
Researchers found that fin whale calls dropped dramatically during seismic surveying off northwestern Spain, with a 70% decrease in calls across three sites. The study highlights the potential impacts of seismic surveys on whale communication, energy expenditure, and habitat use.
Nations are coming together at the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) to address declining population trends and extinction threats among migratory species. The meeting aims to establish conservation policies and protections for over 2,000 species under threat.
Researchers analyzed 11,000-year-old bowhead whale fossils to reveal the devastating impact of commercial whaling on the species' genetics. The study found that genetic diversity will continue to decline, severely impacting the species' resilience to climate change.
The interim update to the State of the World's Migratory Species report warns that 49% of migratory species populations are declining, with 24% facing extinction, due to habitat loss and overexploitation. The report highlights the need for coordinated international action to address these threats and protect migratory species.
Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark believe that killer whales do not perceive themselves as members of their own species when hunting other whales. This predation pressure may have driven the evolution of unique family structures among resident killer whale groups.
Research finds that humpback whales face a higher risk of getting entangled in fishing equipment during years with lower availability of cool-water habitat. The Habitat Compression Index can predict ocean conditions up to a year in advance, suggesting its potential as an early warning system for fishery management decisions.
Researchers have identified three previously unknown genotypes of Helicobacter bacteria in pygmy sperm whales stranded along the southeastern US coast. The discovery raises new questions about microbial pathogens on ocean health and their impact on vulnerable species.
Researchers use advanced technology to pinpoint locations of elusive beaked whales diving to the seafloor off the Louisiana coast. The study reveals new insights into their behavior and detection range, shedding light on these mysterious creatures.
Researchers at University of Queensland conducted hearing tests across ocean off Australian coast, finding humpbacks react to higher frequency sounds than expected. The study provides direct evidence humpbacks are highly sensitive to higher frequencies at the upper end of human hearing range.
Researchers studied diet changes among three whale species, fin, humpback, and minke whales, over 28 years. The study found that whales are adapting their feeding habits in response to limited resource availability and increased competition.
A new study reveals how beluga whales in Alaska's Bristol Bay survive through a surprising strategy: they mate with multiple partners over several years. This polygynandrous system helps maintain genetic diversity despite the population's small size and isolation.
New research reveals that Indigenous communities in southern Brazil hunted large whales 5,000 years ago, long before previously thought. The study provides strong evidence of active hunting and sheds light on the economies, technologies, and lifeways of postglacial societies along the Atlantic coast of South America.
Researchers used drones to collect respiratory droplets from wild whales in northern Norway, detecting cetacean morbillivirus, a potentially deadly virus that causes severe damage. The study highlights the importance of long-term surveillance to understand how emerging stressors shape whale health.
A Harvard-designed bio-logger captures high-fidelity audio of sperm whale codas, which are later analyzed by machine learning models to uncover structured communication. Recent results show that sperm whales have their own alphabet and use vowels and diphthongs in their language.
Researchers found that killer whales and Pacific white-sided dolphins cooperate while hunting salmon in British Columbia waters. The orcas use dolphin echolocation to locate Chinook salmon, which the dolphins then scavenge for food scraps after the orcas eat their share.
Humpback whales are experiencing a significant recovery, with an estimated population of 80,000, thanks to their ability to adapt to changing food sources. Researchers observed humpback whales switching from polar cod to krill in response to changes in the Senyavin Strait ecosystem.
Researchers tested a popular evolutionary theory by comparing maternal length and fetal sex in over 100,000 whales. They found that the fetal sex ratio skews female for longer body size, suggesting that female calves benefit more from heritable fitness than males do. The findings contradict the Trivers-Willard hypothesis.
Researchers at Bigelow Laboratory have developed a new modeling approach that incorporates detailed prey information to improve the prediction of right whale distribution. This approach accounts for the preferences and needs of hungry whales, highlighting the importance of smaller species in their diet.
Beaked whales are recorded in the Foz do Amazonas Basin using passive acoustic monitoring, demonstrating their first documentation in Brazilian waters. The study contributes to understanding cetacean biodiversity and showcases the effectiveness of acoustic monitoring for categorizing elusive sea creatures.
Researchers found that humpback whales use their large pectoral flippers to achieve complex turns, allowing them to corral prey with efficiency. This unique strategy is energetically impractical for other whale species, making humpbacks the only ones capable of bubble-net feeding.
Researchers have developed a 'tap-and-go' approach using specially adapted drones to apply monitoring tags to whales. This innovative method significantly speeds up the process while minimizing human interaction with the animals.
Scientists have discovered a new species of ancient whale, Janjucetus dullardi, from a 26-million-year-old fossil found in Victoria's Surf Coast. The discovery reveals a fast, sharp-toothed predator with a compact body and big eyes.
A team of whale experts discovered that southern resident killer whales regularly use lengths of bull kelp as tools to groom each other during social interactions. The whales fashion the tools by breaking off the ends of kelp stalks and then press them against a partner, rolling them between their bodies for long periods.
A global research team tracked over 100 species of marine animals, revealing key migration patterns and hotspots critical for conservation. The study, MegaMove, uses satellite data to inform a new blueprint for ocean conservation, highlighting the need for targeted mitigation efforts.
A team of scientists from the SETI Institute and UC Davis documented humpback whales producing large bubble rings during friendly interactions with humans. This behavior may offer insights into nonhuman intelligence and aid in the search for extraterrestrial life.
Researchers have uncovered evidence of humans using whale bones as tools from 20,000 years ago, shedding light on the marine ecology of the time and the role whales played in past ecosystems. The study identifies five species of large whales used by early humans.
Researchers found that humpback whales can give birth in temperate waters along their migration route, with calves born as far south as Tasmania. This challenges the long-held assumption that tropical waters are the only nursery for humpback whales.
A UNSW-led study reveals humpback whales are giving birth up to 1500 km north of their previously assumed calving zone in Tasmania. This challenges current beliefs and raises concerns about the vulnerability of newborn whales exposed to risks like boat strikes, entanglements, and pollution.
A new study by ProtectedSeas highlights the potential of marine radar technology to monitor vessel speed violations with 95% confidence. The research found that radar can detect speed violations with high accuracy, enabling effective enforcement of speed limits and prevention of strikes on whale populations.
Researchers found that whales and dolphins use a unique sleep strategy by turning off one half of their brain at a time. This phenomenon is enabled by specific genes and pathways that enable secondary aquatic adaptation.
Whales play a critical role in moving nutrients across ocean basins through horizontal transport in their urine. Scientists estimate that great whales transport approximately 4,000 tons of nitrogen each year to low-nutrient coastal areas in the tropics and subtropics.
Researchers used a novel approach to estimate megalodon's body length and shape, finding it closer in shape to a lemon shark or large whale. The study suggests the prehistoric predator may have reached about 80 feet in length and weighed an estimated 94 tons.
A researcher is using accessible 3D scanning technologies to document and analyze stranded marine mammals, providing precise morphometric assessments and creating interactive visualizations. This approach enhances data collection, democratizes access, and expands the impact of conservation efforts worldwide.
Researchers capture narwhals using their tusks to investigate, manipulate and influence the behavior of Arctic char fish. The study reveals first evidence of likely play, social learning and personality differences among individual narwhal.
Researchers tracked changes in baleen whale song detection over six years, finding correlations with shifts in foraging conditions and food availability. The study's findings suggest that whale song data can provide insights into the health of marine ecosystems and inform conservation efforts.
Researchers propose that timing hypothesis explains the mystery of missing blue whale calves, where births occur in fall and winter, and calves are weaned before returning to feeding areas. This explanation offers alternative insight into high pregnancy rates vs. low sightings of mother-calf pairs.