Articles tagged with Whales
Biologists have discovered that a part of the Southern Hemisphere humpback whale population spends its entire winter in Antarctic waters. The whales use ice-free areas to survive the harsh winter months.
Researchers found that some whale species darken their skin with UV exposure, accumulating DNA damage, similar to humans. Fin whales, however, were resistant to sun damage, offering insights into evolutionary adaptations to counteract UV radiation.
Researchers developed an infrared camera system to automatically spot whales in the surrounding sea. The system uses a thermal sensor to detect temperature differences and software to analyze video streams for whale spouts.
Scientists have found evidence that North Atlantic right whales mate in the Gulf of Maine, with a high proportion of potential mates aggregating there between November and January. The study used aerial surveys and genetics data to identify individuals and determine mating grounds, shedding light on the species' life history.
A recent study by NOAA scientists reveals that distinct groups of killer whales gather seasonally and exhibit low levels of gene flow, indicating separate subpopulations. Genetic evidence suggests a revision to the current stock designations for killer whales in the western Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Islands.
Researchers found that some blue whales changed their diving behavior or temporarily avoided important feeding areas when exposed to simulated mid-frequency sonar sounds. The responses were complex and depended on various factors, including the whales' depth of feeding and location.
Scientists analyzed DNA from a New Zealand museum specimen to determine if it represents a new type of killer whale. The study found that the specimen separated from other killer whales approximately 390,000 years ago, suggesting it may be a separate subspecies or species.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool identified a distinctive molecular signature in myoglobin that allows diving mammals to store oxygen. This adaptation enables elite divers like sperm whales to hold their breath for over an hour, while land mammals can only hold theirs for a few minutes.
Researchers analyzed North Pacific killer-whale strandings, finding 88% fatal and 12% surviving, providing clues on species' overall life history, genetics, and health. The standardized necropsy system increased data collection from 2% to 33%, shedding light on the causes of death and human impact on orca populations.
Scientists attached a device to entangled whales, showing how fishing lines change their behavior and deplete energy. The study highlights the dangers of added drag and buoyancy from fishing gear, posing significant threats to whales' ability to eat, migrate, and survive.
A study published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America uses seafloor seismic data to analyze fin whale calls, revealing new information on their movement patterns and communication habits. The research also sheds light on the animals' feeding behaviors and potential collisions with ships.
Bone-melting acid secreted by Osedax worms dissolves whale bones to access collagen and lipids, a process similar to how mammals repair and remodel bone. The symbiotic relationship between the worms and bacteria involved in this process is still not fully understood.
A new study published in PLOS ONE tracks the movements of individual humpback whales to their singing patterns on a Northwest Atlantic feeding ground. The researchers used passive acoustic tracking to localize whale songs and relate them to specific behaviors, providing valuable insights for marine mammal conservation and management.
A study found that humpback whales can learn new feeding techniques by observing others, with a new technique called lobtail feeding spreading to 40% of the population. This demonstrates the importance of cultural transmission in shaping whale behavior and cognition.
Research reveals many marine mammal populations are increasing, with some recovering to near carrying capacity. The MMPA's strong protections against commercial and accidental killing have contributed to these recoveries.
A new study published in PLOS ONE reveals unique social interactions among great white sharks while scavenging on dead whales in South Africa. The team observed 40 different sharks feeding on a carcass over a single day, suggesting that shark populations may rely on scavenging to supplement their regular feeding activities.
Research reveals Ganges river dolphins produce low-intensity echolocation signals at surprising frequencies, while freshwater dolphins look for prey closer to home. The study provides a new perspective on the evolution of echolocation among toothed whales.
A new study published in Conservation Biology analyzed data on marine mammal and ecosystem research surveys in the Southern California Bight to identify areas with high whale densities. The researchers found that certain shipping routes pose a higher risk to fin whales, while others may be safer for humpback whales.
A recent study challenges the hypothesis that mass strandings of pilot whales are driven by family relationships. The research found that stranded groups are not necessarily members of one extended family and that many calves have no identifiable mother among the other beached whales. This suggests that social bonds among kin may actua...
A new study questions the role of kinship in mass strandings of pilot whales, finding that related and unrelated individuals were present at each event. The separation of mothers and calves suggests strong kinship bonds are being disrupted prior to stranding.
Researchers found that whale baleen traps food particles at natural swimming speeds by tangling in flowing water. The flexible material, composed of keratin, forms plates with internal fibrous cores and bristly fringes that trap particles as whales skim or lunge through the ocean.
A multidisciplinary team of researchers investigated how whales got their teeth by analyzing the fossil record and embryonic development process. They found that whales evolved simpler teeth around 30 million years ago, which are shaped by proteins BMP4 and FGF8 during development.
A genetic analysis reveals that North Atlantic humpback whales once existed in numbers of over 100,000 individuals, with an estimated range of 45,000 to 235,000. The study's findings provide a more accurate estimate than previous catch data and have significant implications for determining the recovery threshold of the species.
Researchers successfully identified individual whale sharks in 85% of cases using public photographs, comparable to professional photographer identification rates. The study suggests that citizen-sourced photos can be a valuable tool for tracking whale shark populations and monitoring conservation efforts.
Two ocean-going robots, equipped with acoustic monitoring instruments, detected nine endangered North Atlantic right whales in real-time. The gliders' data helped NOAA establish a dynamic management area, asking mariners to slow their vessel speed to avoid striking the animals.
Researchers are studying filter-feeding whales using multisensor tags, providing insights into their diving and foraging behaviors. The findings show that different whale species have distinct feeding strategies, with some catching elusive prey and others filtering slowly through large patches of water.
A new study finds that humpback whales sing while foraging in their Antarctic feeding grounds, showing a previously unknown behavioral flexibility. The researchers tracked ten whales and found that all ten sang while foraging, with some even singing intense, continuous bouts of song.
Researchers tracked humpback whales in Antarctic waters and found that they sang while foraging, suggesting a previously unknown behavioral flexibility. The study suggests that the widely held behavioral dichotomy of breeding-versus-feeding may be too simplistic.
Researchers observed synchronized swimming in pilot whales as a response to external threats, highlighting their social structure and affiliative behaviors. The study revealed that these cetaceans form permanent partnerships and change their diving behavior in the presence of vessels.
A new study by UBC researchers reveals that whales and dolphins require specific high-energy diets to survive, contradicting conventional wisdom. The study compared the diets of 11 species in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, finding differences in prey consumed and muscle performance.
A new research study from Georgia Aquarium and Georgia Institute of Technology found that homarine is a useful biomarker for the health status of whale sharks, with metabolic profiles differing between healthy and unhealthy individuals. The study also identified over 25 other compounds that differed in concentration based on health.
Researchers estimate that the ocean was even louder 200 years ago due to whales' vocalizations. New data suggest that human-generated noise in modern oceans is just a small increase compared to natural whale sounds.
Researchers have found that a white whale named NOC can imitate human speech by modifying its vocal mechanics. The study's findings suggest that NOC had motivation for contact and made an effort to produce speech-like sounds.
Scientists have conducted the first range-wide genetic analysis of bowhead whales using ancient DNA samples from archaeological sites and modern populations. The study reveals differences in population diversity between ancient and modern times, suggesting recent disappearance of unique maternal lineages due to habitat loss and whaling.
Researchers found that humpback whales use a unique tactic to lunge for krill, beating their tail fins twice as fast as normal and maintaining speed while gliding after opening their mouths. This discovery suggests that lunge feeding may be cheaper than previously thought, but still highly demanding.
A study by the University of Exeter and York found that male killer whales over 30 are almost 14 times more likely to die within a year after their mother's death. This prolonged menopause allows females to invest in their sons' survival, giving them a significant advantage in passing on their genes.
Researchers at University of Copenhagen develop a novel DNA monitoring approach that can track fish and whales in seawater, revealing local faunas. The method proves as good as or better than existing methods, with great perspectives for monitoring marine fish biodiversity and estimating fish stocks.
A NOAA-led study reveals that high levels of background noise from ships have reduced the ability of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales to communicate with each other by about two-thirds. The study found that right whales now find themselves living in a world full of acoustic smog, making it difficult for them to gather ...
Scientists have recorded over 60 unique songs from critically endangered bowhead whales, with the variety of tunes surprising and comparable to that of songbirds. The findings also suggest that bowhead whales may have a repertoire of songs they sing during a season, making them the only known whales to do so.
A new study found large numbers of humpback whales remaining in Antarctic bays until late autumn, with densities estimated at up to 1.75 whales per square kilometer. This challenges previous thought that the annual migrations would begin earlier.
A new study suggests that the fin whale population in the Mediterranean Sea is smaller and more limited in distribution than previously estimated. The research highlights the impact of human activity on the species' survival, including collisions with merchant vessels and noise pollution.
A new study published in Molecular Ecology found that most southern right whales born near New Zealand's sub-Antarctic islands were fathered by local males, indicating strong local fidelity to breeding habitat. This finding suggests that the New Zealand population is relatively isolated from other populations, which could have implicat...
A new study reveals that southern resident killer whales in the Pacific Northwest are more stressed when there is a scarcity of Chinook salmon to eat. Hormone levels show that the whales thrive when they arrive in the Salish Sea in late spring and have access to Fraser River Chinook, which helps them build up their fat reserves.
Researchers measured hormone levels to distinguish between two theories for the whale's decline, supporting the inadequate prey hypothesis. The data suggest that recovering Chinook salmon populations is critical to killer whale recovery.
A new sensory organ discovered in the chin of rorqual whales enables efficient lunge feeding by coordinating jaw position and throat expansion. This finding sheds light on how hyper-expandable throat pleats and other morphological specializations facilitate successful feeding in these ocean giants.
Researchers have discovered a sensory organ at the tip of the whale's chin, lodged in the ligamentous tissue connecting its two jaws, which sends information to the brain to coordinate the complex mechanism of lunge-feeding. This discovery may help explain why rorqual whales are able to achieve such enormous sizes.
A new project, WhaleWatch, uses satellite data and migration models to identify high-risk areas for whale entanglement and ship strikes. The study aims to provide key information on whale migration patterns and inform management policies.
A groundbreaking study on manta ray migration patterns reveals feeding habitats and threats to the world's largest ray. The research found that manta rays spend most of their time in coastal areas with abundant zooplankton and fish eggs, but only 11.5% of locations occurred within marine protected areas.
A study using ancient DNA from archaeological sites found that gray whales had a substantially larger population before whaling and experienced a sharp recent decrease, consistent with whaling as the cause. The research suggests a pre-whaling decrease in population size of about 78,000 to 116,000 individuals.
Researchers explore how humans perceive sound in complex environments and track patterns over time. Volcanoes' low-frequency sounds offer insights into eruption behavior, while acoustic diodes promise improved ultrasound imaging.
A new study published in The Anatomical Record reveals that some baleen whales have specialized fats associated with their jaws, similar to those found in toothed whales. This discovery sheds light on the auditory anatomy of these animals and challenges previous assumptions about their hearing systems.
The Whale Alert app provides real-time information on right whale sightings, allowing mariners to navigate around areas of high risk. The app is developed by a collaboration of government agencies, academic institutions, and conservation groups to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales.
University of British Columbia researchers identified a gene in balsam fir trees that can facilitate the production of plant-based fixatives and scents, potentially replacing whale barf-derived ambergris. This discovery could lead to more sustainable and cost-effective production methods for high-end perfumes.
Researchers discovered that false killer whales can focus their echolocation beams on targets using a strategy called 'acoustic squint', increasing beam width when faced with harder tasks. By plotting the path of acoustic beams, they found that wider beams were focused furthest away, allowing Kina to target specific objects.
Scientists discovered a 3-4 million-year-old toothed whale species, Bohaskaia monodontoides, that lived in warm water regions and shared features with belugas and narwhals. The fossil skull found in Virginia suggests its modern relatives' Arctic adaptations evolved recently.
Researchers found that giant squids' large eyes are better suited for spotting large objects, like whales, rather than average prey. Their 10-inch eyes allow them to see predators from a distance despite the dim light of their underwater habitat.
Researchers found that giant squids' large eyes collect more light, improving their ability to detect small contrast differences and bioluminescence. The boost in detecting low-light differences is critical for spotting approaching sperm whales, but the squid's escape is not entirely dependent on its eye size.
A genetic survey of Antarctic blue whales found a surprisingly high level of diversity among the surviving population, which may help them slowly rebound from catastrophic decimation. The study tracked individual movements and revealed some whales traveled over 6,650 kilometers in four years.
Research published in PLoS ONE found that blue whales change their vocal behavior when exposed to man-made noise from sonar and ship sounds, regardless of frequency overlap. The study suggests a strong probability of noise affecting the vocal behavior of blue whales, with long-term implications unknown.
A recent study found humpback whales on opposite sides of the southern Indian Ocean singing unique songs, with only one shared theme. The results suggest limited exchange between regions and shed light on how whale culture spreads.