Articles tagged with Whales
A 34-million-year-old fossil discovery in Antarctica has provided significant insights into the evolution of baleen whales. The ancient whale, Llanocetus denticrenatus, had well-developed teeth and gums instead of baleen, suggesting a transition from biting to filter feeding occurred over time.
Researchers tracked a female whale shark's 20,142 km migration from eastern Pacific to western Indo-Pacific, the longest recorded migration. The study provides new insights into whale shark migration patterns and conservation efforts.
A new genetic analysis reveals that two male whales fathered over half of the calves born since 1990, indicating inbreeding in the Southern Resident killer whale population. The limited breeding number reduces the population's resilience to change, potentially compromising individual animals' survival.
Researchers used a rocket scanner to take the first whole-body CT scan of a minke whale, revealing insights on whale communication. The team modeled how whales hear low-frequency sounds using custom-developed computer simulation tools.
A new study has found that researchers can detect killer whales in Puget Sound by analyzing environmental DNA (eDNA) in water samples. The eDNA persists for up to two hours after the whales have passed through, providing a potential game-changing advance in whale tracking and identification.
A large group of common bottlenose dolphins was recorded in Canadian Pacific waters, the first confirmed occurrence in this area. The sighting suggests that these warm-water species may naturally range into British Columbia, Canada when conditions are suitable due to warming trend.
University of Otago researchers identify and name a new genus of extinct baleen whale from New Zealand's Hakataramea Valley, dating back 27.5 million years. The Toipahautea waitaki was found with diagnostic earbones preserved, suggesting it fed like modern-day minke whales.
Researchers at UEA are using silent marine robots to record underwater sounds, providing valuable information on sea-surface wind speed and monitoring storms. The robots can also eavesdrop on marine life, such as whales and dolphins, and detect human activities like marine traffic and seismic surveys.
The study found that rorquals have been hybridizing during their evolutionary history, with genetic barriers between species seemingly non-existent. This rare phenomenon, called sympatric speciation, has significant implications for our understanding of biodiversity.
A genetic kinship study of beluga whales reveals they return to the same locations year after year, inheriting migration routes from mother to calf. This demonstrates philopatry and cultural behavior in whales, challenging our understanding of non-primate societies.
A University of Washington study analyzed audio recordings from bowhead whales, finding a diverse repertoire of over 184 different songs. The whales' singing behavior is distinct from humpback whales', with no song types repeated between years, and new songs emerging each season.
Researchers analyzed basking shark aggregations off the northeastern US coast to learn more about their behavior. They found that these events occurred during summer and fall, when sea surface temperatures were between 55-75 degrees F, and are likely related to foraging and socializing.
Stanford researchers found that aquatic mammal size is bounded by the need to retain heat and difficulties getting enough food. The group analyzed body masses for over 3,800 species and found a convergent evolution toward around 1,000 pounds.
Aquatic mammals are bounded by need to retain heat and difficulties gathering food, limiting their size. The study found that smaller ancestors like dog relatives increased in size more than larger ancestors like hippos to reach an optimal weight of around 1,000 pounds.
A study published in Animal Behaviour examined the acoustic behavior of North Atlantic right whales, finding that their calls change as individuals age. Similar to human infants, younger whale calls are shorter and less structured, but develop into clearer sounds with better defined structure as they mature.
Researchers found that North Atlantic right whales produce clearer, longer calls with age, defying previous predictions of physical maturity. This study suggests that whales have more control over their voices, potentially sending more complex information.
New research finds that beluga whales are diving deeper and longer to find food as sea ice loss changes their Arctic habitat. The whales' diving behavior has increased significantly over nearly two decades, with dives lasting up to 3 times a day and depths reaching 64 meters.
A study on humpback whales' skin microbiome found that nearly all whales had six core communities of bacteria, which changed with seasonal and environmental conditions. Monitoring these microbes could aid in assessing the whales' health and detecting climate change impacts.
Researchers have detected snapping shrimp off the Oregon coast and believe their loud clicking noise may attract eastern Pacific gray whales. The crustaceans are typically found in warm waters but were previously unknown to inhabit the cooler coastal areas.
Scientists recorded over 4,500 sounds from tagged blue whales to analyze their calling patterns and behaviors. The study found that male whales were chattier at night, producing more calls than females, which may aid in reproduction.
A team of researchers is conducting a five-week survey to investigate the health of southern right whales in their feeding grounds off South Georgia. The study aims to unravel the mystery of high calf mortalities and understand how environmental conditions influence breeding success.
A study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution found that all organisms are nearly equally fit for survival due to a universal tradeoff in energy allocation. This means that each species contributes the same amount of energy per gram of parent to the next generation, regardless of size or life history.
Deep-diving narwhals experience unusually low heart rates while escaping human disturbances, potentially harming oxygenation and brain function. The study's findings raise concerns about the effects of ocean noise and increased human activity on these Arctic whales.
A new study reveals the location of 20 whale shark aggregation sites globally, increasing knowledge of abundance and geographic range. The research also identifies sex-ratio bias, site fidelity and hotspot sites, improving conservation efforts for this endangered species.
A new study published in Endangered Species Research found that chronically entangled North Atlantic right whales have high hormone levels indicating severe stress. The research used fecal samples from live, entangled, and dead whales to investigate stress levels and determine cause of death.
Researchers found that bowhead whales in the eastern Canadian Arctic molt and rub on large rocks to facilitate exfoliation, shedding parasites and sun-damaged skin. This behavior may help reduce ultraviolet radiation damage, important for long-lived species like bowhead whales.
Researchers observed bowhead whales rubbing against rocks in Cumberland Sound, Nunavut, to remove dead skin. The warmer coastal waters may facilitate molting during summer months.
Researchers found that blue whales tend to be 'right-handed' when feeding, rolling about 90 degrees to the right side during most lunges. However, they roll to the left when approaching from below to target patches of prey, allowing for more efficient feeding.
The recovery of killer whales, sea lions, and harbor seals on the West Coast has led to a significant increase in their consumption of chinook salmon. This shift may now exceed the combined harvest by commercial and recreational fisheries, creating complex tradeoffs for conservation efforts.
Researchers found that individual blue whales prefer to roll to the right most of the time, but shift to left-side rolls in shallow water to hunt small prey. This study provides the first evidence of handedness in blue whales and highlights their adaptability when it comes to feeding behaviors.
Most blue whales exhibit a lateralization bias, being 'right-handed' or 'left-handed,' with most feeding movements involving 90-degree side rolls. However, researchers found that these whales become left-handed when swimming upward at a steep angle to approach prey near the surface.
Researchers tracked North Atlantic right whales using passive acoustic monitoring, finding they use nearly the entire eastern seaboard during winter and move around more than thought. The study revealed changes in their time spent in some areas and confirmed their presence along the East Coast year-round.
The 2017 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards honored distinguished reporting on topics such as antibiotic-resistant infections, superbugs, and climate change. The winners included a Reuters team for their investigation into uncounted deaths from superbug infections.
The study reveals that Albertocetus had a large brain size, intermediate between modern cetaceans and terrestrial even-toed hoofed animals. The partial vertebral column indicates that it retained a similar shape and moved similarly to its archaeocete ancestors.
The study reveals that climate change and insufficient international protection are endangering the North Atlantic right whale population, which has made modest gains in recent years. The lack of adequate policies in northern waterways increases the risk of ship traffic and commercial fishing gear harming the whales.
Researchers have discovered that Bryde's whales employ a unique feeding strategy involving lifting their heads to tread water, allowing prey to flow in. This 'tread-water feeding' behavior is the first recorded passive feeding method in baleen whales.
Climate change and human activities are putting North Atlantic right whales under immense pressure, with food scarcity and high mortality rates exacerbating their decline. The study predicts population growth will be hindered by climate-mediated food availability and policy-driven mortalities.
New research found that male killer whales are three times more likely to die in years with scarce food and when they are not at the centre of their social group. The study highlights the importance of social bonds for male killer whales, particularly during times of scarcity.
Researchers are developing a system to alert ships to the proximity of whales using acoustic monitoring, thermal imaging, and big data analytics. The goal is to reduce fatal collisions between ships and whales, particularly in the Santa Barbara Channel where important feeding grounds overlap with busy shipping lanes.
A new study found that cetaceans have sophisticated social and cooperative behavior traits, including complex alliance relationships, social transfer of hunting techniques, and vocal mimicry. The research suggests a link between brain size and cultural complexity in these marine mammals.
Researchers from the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center used a towed linear hydrophone array to document dive depths for Gervais' and True's beaked whales, two of the least known species. The study provides new insights into their behavior, revealing that they dive as deep as 870 meters in search of food.
Researchers studied dive patterns of five toothed whale species in the Bahamas and found that two beaked whale species took exceptionally long, deep dives for their size. This suggests that these whales may extend their foraging dives by shifting from aerobic to anaerobic respiration.
Researchers found that every captive orca examined had damaged teeth, with over 65% displaying moderate to extreme tooth wear. The study suggests that daily flushing of chemicals can lead to chronic antibiotic therapy compromising the whale's immune system. The findings raise serious concerns for the health and welfare of captive orcas.
A new study found a shared respiratory microbiome in healthy humpback whales, with 25 bacterial groups present across all samples. This discovery could serve as an important framework for monitoring whale health and detecting diseases.
Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution identified an extensive conserved group of bacteria within healthy humpback whales' blow. The discovery could serve as a framework for monitoring the health of this species and others, with potential implications for disease detection and conservation.
A new statistical model confirms a decline in North Atlantic right whale population since 2010, with adult females experiencing a significant drop. The study's findings highlight the need for urgent conservation efforts to protect this endangered species.
Whale sharks track ocean fronts for food and migration purposes, revealing a network of 'highways' across the Eastern Tropical Pacific. The study provides insights into whale shark behavior, informing conservation efforts and population estimates.
Researchers developed a peptide mass fingerprint technique to identify whale species from old baleen samples too degraded for microscopy. The method accurately identified 10 species of whales and helped archaeologists understand which species prehistoric groups hunted and how resources were used.
Researchers have discovered a new species of extinct dolphin, Inermorostrum xenops, off the coast of South Carolina. The toothless dolphin lived around 28-30 million years ago and provides evidence of suction feeding in echolocating sea mammals.
A potential Miocene-era breeding site of the extinct baleen whale Parietobalaena yamaokai has been identified in Hiroshima, Japan. The discovery suggests that the northern hemisphere may have supported a breeding ground for this species dating back over 15 million years.
Researchers use complex ecosystem model to predict whale numbers by 2100, finding some species will not recover, while others like humpbacks are expected to make full recovery. Southern Hemisphere whaling has led to slow growth rates and reduced populations in several species.
A new study found that humpback whales avoid loud ocean mining noise triggered by seismic air gun surveys, suggesting a clear avoidance reaction within a certain distance from the vessel. The research aims to improve current mitigation measures to prevent adverse effects of seismic air gun noise on large whale behavior.
Researchers found a single amino-acid difference between toothed whales and filter-feeding baleen whales that may explain their distinct body shapes. This variation affects the sensitivity of a key receptor, potentially impacting feeding behavior and body size in these species.
Researchers have documented a rare phenomenon where humpback whales flap their foreflippers like penguins or sea lions to move forward. This novel behavior helps scientists understand the abilities and anatomy of these mysterious animals.
A new DNA study reveals that fidelity to breeding grounds plays a major role in shaping humpback whale populations. The research found that female whales' annual returns to the same breeding grounds and their early experience with calves influence population structure, leading to differences between whale populations.
Research by Dr Nicholas Carey and colleagues reveals complex balance between whale attacks and fish escape responses, and how lunge characteristics relate to prey escape abilities. Humpback whales alter their lunging strategy to target different prey species.
A multi-year study of southern resident killer whales found up to two-thirds of pregnancies failed due to nutritional stress, primarily caused by low or variable Chinook salmon abundance. The research suggests that boosting salmon runs could help the population recover.
A newly discovered ancient whale species offers insights into the evolution of filter feeding in whales. Researchers found that this transitional species used its large molars for filter feeding, suggesting a key step in the development of baleen.
Researchers have captured footage of palm cockatoos playing the drums with almost perfect spacing between taps, mimicking human drummers. The bird's individual styles were distinct and may allow others to recognize their drumming signatures.
Scientists analyzed historic whale data to identify early warning signals of impending population collapse. They found significant declines in body size and fluctuations in numbers up to 40 years before documented collapses.