1
|
Fahlbusch JA, Czapanskiy MF, Calambokidis J, Cade DE, Abrahms B, Hazen EL, Goldbogen JA. Blue whales increase feeding rates at fine-scale ocean features. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221180. [PMID: 35975432 PMCID: PMC9382224 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine predators face the challenge of reliably finding prey that is patchily distributed in space and time. Predators make movement decisions at multiple spatial and temporal scales, yet we have a limited understanding of how habitat selection at multiple scales translates into foraging performance. In the ocean, there is mounting evidence that submesoscale (i.e. less than 100 km) processes drive the formation of dense prey patches that should hypothetically provide feeding hot spots and increase predator foraging success. Here, we integrated environmental remote-sensing with high-resolution animal-borne biologging data to evaluate submesoscale surface current features in relation to the habitat selection and foraging performance of blue whales in the California Current System. Our study revealed a consistent functional relationship in which blue whales disproportionately foraged within dynamic aggregative submesoscale features at both the regional and feeding site scales across seasons, regions and years. Moreover, we found that blue whale feeding rates increased in areas with stronger aggregative features, suggesting that these features indicate areas of higher prey density. The use of fine-scale, dynamic features by foraging blue whales underscores the need to take these features into account when designating critical habitat and may help inform strategies to mitigate the impacts of human activities for the species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James A. Fahlbusch
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA,Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, WA, USA
| | - Max F. Czapanskiy
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | | | - David E. Cade
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| | - Briana Abrahms
- Center for Ecosystem Sentinels, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Elliott L. Hazen
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA,Environmental Research Division, NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Monterey, CA, USA
| | - Jeremy A. Goldbogen
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
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: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Nichols RC, Cade DE, Kahane-Rapport S, Goldbogen J, Stimpert A, Nowacek D, Read AJ, Johnston DW, Friedlaender A. Intra-seasonal variation in feeding rates and diel foraging behaviour in a seasonally fasting mammal, the humpback whale. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:211674. [PMID: 35814912 PMCID: PMC9257586 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.211674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Antarctic humpback whales forage in summer, coincident with the seasonal abundance of their primary prey, the Antarctic krill. During the feeding season, humpback whales accumulate energy stores sufficient to fuel their fasting period lasting over six months. Previous animal movement modelling work (using area-restricted search as a proxy) suggests a hyperphagic period late in the feeding season, similar in timing to some terrestrial fasting mammals. However, no direct measures of seasonal foraging behaviour existed to corroborate this hypothesis. We attached high-resolution, motion-sensing biologging tags to 69 humpback whales along the Western Antarctic Peninsula throughout the feeding season from January to June to determine how foraging effort changes throughout the season. Our results did not support existing hypotheses: we found a significant reduction in foraging presence and feeding rates from the beginning to the end of the feeding season. During the early summer period, feeding occurred during all hours at high rates. As the season progressed, foraging occurred mostly at night and at lower rates. We provide novel information on seasonal changes in foraging of humpback whales and suggest that these animals, contrary to nearly all other animals that seasonally fast, exhibit high feeding rates soon after exiting the fasting period.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ross C. Nichols
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz. 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - David E. Cade
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Boulevard, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - Shirel Kahane-Rapport
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Boulevard, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - Jeremy Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Boulevard, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - Alison Stimpert
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, San Jose State University, 8272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA
| | - Douglas Nowacek
- Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences & Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - Andrew J. Read
- Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - David W. Johnston
- Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - Ari Friedlaender
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz. 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Czapanskiy MF, Ponganis PJ, Fahlbusch JA, Schmitt TL, Goldbogen JA. An accelerometer-derived ballistocardiogram method for detecting heartrates in free-ranging marine mammals. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:275276. [PMID: 35502794 PMCID: PMC9167577 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Physio-logging methods, which use animal-borne devices to record physiological variables, are entering a new era driven by advances in sensor development. However, existing datasets collected with traditional bio-loggers, such as accelerometers, still contain untapped eco-physiological information. Here, we present a computational method for extracting heart rate from high-resolution accelerometer data using a ballistocardiogram. We validated our method with simultaneous accelerometer–electrocardiogram tag deployments in a controlled setting on a killer whale (Orcinus orca) and demonstrate the predictions correspond with previously observed cardiovascular patterns in a blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), including the magnitude of apneic bradycardia and increase in heart rate prior to and during ascent. Our ballistocardiogram method may be applied to mine heart rates from previously collected accelerometery data and expand our understanding of comparative cardiovascular physiology. Highlighted Article: Validation of a computational method for extracting heart rate in free-ranging cetaceans from high-resolution accelerometer data using a ballistocardiogram.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Max F Czapanskiy
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, USA
| | - Paul J Ponganis
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, USA
| | - James A Fahlbusch
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, USA
| | - T L Schmitt
- Animal Health Department, SeaWorld of California, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Segre PS, Gough WT, Roualdes EA, Cade DE, Czapanskiy MF, Fahlbusch J, Kahane-Rapport SR, Oestreich WK, Bejder L, Bierlich KC, Burrows JA, Calambokidis J, Chenoweth EM, di Clemente J, Durban JW, Fearnbach H, Fish FE, Friedlaender AS, Hegelund P, Johnston DW, Nowacek DP, Oudejans MG, Penry GS, Potvin J, Simon M, Stanworth A, Straley JM, Szabo A, Videsen SKA, Visser F, Weir CR, Wiley DN, Goldbogen JA. Scaling of maneuvering performance in baleen whales: larger whales outperform expectations. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:274595. [PMID: 35234874 PMCID: PMC8976943 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Despite their enormous size, whales make their living as voracious predators. To catch their much smaller, more maneuverable prey, they have developed several unique locomotor strategies that require high energetic input, high mechanical power output and a surprising degree of agility. To better understand how body size affects maneuverability at the largest scale, we used bio-logging data, aerial photogrammetry and a high-throughput approach to quantify the maneuvering performance of seven species of free-swimming baleen whale. We found that as body size increases, absolute maneuvering performance decreases: larger whales use lower accelerations and perform slower pitch-changes, rolls and turns than smaller species. We also found that baleen whales exhibit positive allometry of maneuvering performance: relative to their body size, larger whales use higher accelerations, and perform faster pitch-changes, rolls and certain types of turns than smaller species. However, not all maneuvers were impacted by body size in the same way, and we found that larger whales behaviorally adjust for their decreased agility by using turns that they can perform more effectively. The positive allometry of maneuvering performance suggests that large whales have compensated for their increased body size by evolving more effective control surfaces and by preferentially selecting maneuvers that play to their strengths.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paolo S Segre
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - William T Gough
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - Edward A Roualdes
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, California State University, Chico, Chico, CA 95929, USA
| | - David E Cade
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA.,Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Max F Czapanskiy
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - James Fahlbusch
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA.,Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, WA 98501, USA
| | - Shirel R Kahane-Rapport
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA.,Department of Biological Science, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92834, USA
| | | | - Lars Bejder
- Marine Mammal Research Program, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Kaneohe, HI 96744, USA.,Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - K C Bierlich
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA.,Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | - Julia A Burrows
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA.,Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Ellen M Chenoweth
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA.,Department of Natural Sciences, University of Alaska Southeast, AK 99835, USA
| | - Jacopo di Clemente
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.,Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.,Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - John W Durban
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc., Aptos, CA 95003, USA
| | - Holly Fearnbach
- SR3, SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation and Research, Des Moines, WA 98198, USA
| | - Frank E Fish
- Department of Biology, West Chester University, PA 19383, USA
| | - Ari S Friedlaender
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Peter Hegelund
- Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk 3900, Greenland
| | - David W Johnston
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - Douglas P Nowacek
- Nicholas School of the Environment and Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University Marine Lab, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | | | - Gwenith S Penry
- Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 6031, South Africa
| | - Jean Potvin
- Department of Physics, Saint Louis University, St Louis, MO 63103, USA
| | - Malene Simon
- Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk 3900, Greenland
| | | | - Janice M Straley
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of Alaska Southeast, AK 99835, USA
| | - Andrew Szabo
- Alaska Whale Foundation, Petersburg, AK 99833, USA
| | - Simone K A Videsen
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Fleur Visser
- Kelp Marine Research, 1624 CJ Hoorn, The Netherlands.,Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, IBED, University of Amsterdam, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Coastal Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Texel, 1790 AB Den Burg, The Netherlands
| | | | - David N Wiley
- NOAA/Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Scituate, MA 02066, USA
| | - Jeremy A Goldbogen
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ratsimbazafindranahaka MN, Huetz C, Andrianarimisa A, Reidenberg JS, Saloma A, Adam O, Charrier I. Characterizing the suckling behavior by video and 3D-accelerometry in humpback whale calves on a breeding ground. PeerJ 2022; 10:e12945. [PMID: 35194528 PMCID: PMC8858581 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Getting maternal milk through nursing is vital for all newborn mammals. Despite its importance, nursing has been poorly documented in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Nursing is difficult to observe underwater without disturbing the whales and is usually impossible to observe from a ship. We attempted to observe nursing from the calf's perspective by placing CATS cam tags on three humpback whale calves in the Sainte Marie channel, Madagascar, Indian Ocean, during the breeding seasons. CATS cam tags are animal-borne multi-sensor tags equipped with a video camera, a hydrophone, and several auxiliary sensors (including a 3-axis accelerometer, a 3-axis magnetometer, and a depth sensor). The use of multi-sensor tags minimized potential disturbance from human presence. A total of 10.52 h of video recordings were collected with the corresponding auxiliary data. Video recordings were manually analyzed and correlated with the auxiliary data, allowing us to extract different kinematic features including the depth rate, speed, Fluke Stroke Rate (FSR), Overall Body Dynamic Acceleration (ODBA), pitch, roll, and roll rate. We found that suckling events lasted 18.8 ± 8.8 s on average (N = 34) and were performed mostly during dives. Suckling events represented 1.7% of the total observation time. During suckling, the calves were visually estimated to be at a 30-45° pitch angle relative to the midline of their mother's body and were always observed rolling either to the right or to the left. In our auxiliary dataset, we confirmed that suckling behavior was primarily characterized by a high average absolute roll and additionally we also found that it was likely characterized by a high average FSR and a low average speed. Kinematic features were used for supervised machine learning in order to subsequently detect suckling behavior automatically. Our study is a proof of method on which future investigations can build upon. It opens new opportunities for further investigation of suckling behavior in humpback whales and the baleen whale species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maevatiana N. Ratsimbazafindranahaka
- Association Cétamada, Barachois Sainte Marie, Madagascar,Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Saclay, France,Département de Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Université d’Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Chloé Huetz
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Saclay, France
| | - Aristide Andrianarimisa
- Département de Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Université d’Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Joy S. Reidenberg
- Center for Anatomy and Functional Morphology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States of America
| | - Anjara Saloma
- Association Cétamada, Barachois Sainte Marie, Madagascar
| | - Olivier Adam
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Saclay, France,Institut Jean Le Rond d’Alembert, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Charrier
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Saclay, France
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sidrow E, Heckman N, Fortune SME, Trites AW, Murphy I, Auger‐Méthé M. Modelling multi‐scale, state‐switching functional data with hidden Markov models. CAN J STAT 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/cjs.11673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Evan Sidrow
- Department of Statistics University of British Columbia Vancouver V6T 1Z4 British Columbia Canada
| | - Nancy Heckman
- Department of Statistics University of British Columbia Vancouver V6T 1Z4 British Columbia Canada
| | - Sarah M. E. Fortune
- Marine Mammal Research Unit University of British Columbia Vancouver V6T 1Z4 British Columbia Canada
| | - Andrew W. Trites
- Department of Zoology University of British Columbia Vancouver V6T 1Z4 British Columbia Canada
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries University of British Columbia Vancouver V6T 1Z4 British Columbia Canada
| | - Ian Murphy
- Department of Biostatistics University of Florida Gainesville 32611 FL U.S.A
| | - Marie Auger‐Méthé
- Department of Statistics University of British Columbia Vancouver V6T 1Z4 British Columbia Canada
- Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries University of British Columbia Vancouver V6T 1Z4 British Columbia Canada
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ali M, Borgo R, Jones MW. Concurrent time-series selections using deep learning and dimension reduction. Knowl Based Syst 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.knosys.2021.107507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
|
9
|
Martín López LM, Aguilar de Soto N, Madsen PT, Johnson M. Overall dynamic body acceleration measures activity differently on large versus small aquatic animals. Methods Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Martina Martín López
- School of Environmental Sciences University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
- Ipar Perspective Asociación Karabiondo Kalea Sopela Spain
| | - Natacha Aguilar de Soto
- BIOECOMAC Department of Animal Biology, Edaphology and Geology University of La Laguna Tenerife Spain
| | - Peter T. Madsen
- Zoophysiology Department of Biology Aarhus University Aarhus Denmark
| | - Mark Johnson
- Zoophysiology Department of Biology Aarhus University Aarhus Denmark
- Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies Aarhus University Aarhus Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Watanabe YY, Goldbogen JA. Too big to study? The biologging approach to understanding the behavioural energetics of ocean giants. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:270831. [PMID: 34232316 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.202747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Wild animals are under selective pressure to optimise energy budgets; therefore, quantifying energy expenditure, intake and allocation to specific activities is important if we are to understand how animals survive in their environment. One approach toward estimating energy budgets has involved measuring oxygen consumption rates under controlled conditions and constructing allometric relationships across species. However, studying 'giant' marine vertebrates (e.g. pelagic sharks, whales) in this way is logistically difficult or impossible. An alternative approach involves the use of increasingly sophisticated electronic tags that have allowed recordings of behaviour, internal states and the surrounding environment of marine animals. This Review outlines how we could study the energy expenditure and intake of free-living ocean giants using this 'biologging' technology. There are kinematic, physiological and theoretical approaches for estimating energy expenditure, each of which has merits and limitations. Importantly, tag-derived energy proxies can hardly be validated against oxygen consumption rates for giant species. The proxies are thus qualitative, rather than quantitative, estimates of energy expenditure, and have more limited utilities. Despite this limitation, these proxies allow us to study the energetics of ocean giants in their behavioural context, providing insight into how these animals optimise their energy budgets under natural conditions. We also outline how information on energy intake and foraging behaviour can be gained from tag data. These methods are becoming increasingly important owing to the natural and anthropogenic environmental changes faced by ocean giants that can alter their energy budgets, fitness and, ultimately, population sizes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuuki Y Watanabe
- National Institute of Polar Research, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-8518, Japan.,Department of Polar Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-8518, Japan
| | - Jeremy A Goldbogen
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Chenoweth EM, Boswell KM, Friedlaender AS, McPhee MV, Burrows JA, Heintz RA, Straley JM. Confronting assumptions about prey selection by lunge‐feeding whales using a process‐based model. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ellen M. Chenoweth
- University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks AK USA
- University of Alaska Southeast Sitka AK USA
| | | | - Ari S. Friedlaender
- University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz CA USA
- Oregon State University Newport OR USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Gough WT, Smith HJ, Savoca MS, Czapanskiy MF, Fish FE, Potvin J, Bierlich KC, Cade DE, Di Clemente J, Kennedy J, Segre P, Stanworth A, Weir C, Goldbogen JA. Scaling of oscillatory kinematics and Froude efficiency in baleen whales. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:jeb237586. [PMID: 34109418 PMCID: PMC8317509 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.237586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
High efficiency lunate-tail swimming with high-aspect-ratio lifting surfaces has evolved in many vertebrate lineages, from fish to cetaceans. Baleen whales (Mysticeti) are the largest swimming animals that exhibit this locomotor strategy, and present an ideal study system to examine how morphology and the kinematics of swimming scale to the largest body sizes. We used data from whale-borne inertial sensors coupled with morphometric measurements from aerial drones to calculate the hydrodynamic performance of oscillatory swimming in six baleen whale species ranging in body length from 5 to 25 m (fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus; Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera edeni; sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis; Antarctic minke whale, Balaenoptera bonaerensis; humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae; and blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus). We found that mass-specific thrust increased with both swimming speed and body size. Froude efficiency, defined as the ratio of useful power output to the rate of energy input ( Sloop, 1978), generally increased with swimming speed but decreased on average with increasing body size. This finding is contrary to previous results in smaller animals, where Froude efficiency increased with body size. Although our empirically parameterized estimates for swimming baleen whale drag were higher than those of a simple gliding model, oscillatory locomotion at this scale exhibits generally high Froude efficiency as in other adept swimmers. Our results quantify the fine-scale kinematics and estimate the hydrodynamics of routine and energetically expensive swimming modes at the largest scale.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William T. Gough
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - Hayden J. Smith
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
- Department of Physics, Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX 78626, USA
| | - Matthew S. Savoca
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - Max F. Czapanskiy
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - Frank E. Fish
- Department of Biology, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383, USA
| | - Jean Potvin
- Department of Physics, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 63103, USA
| | - K. C. Bierlich
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - David E. Cade
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
- Long Marine Laboratory, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | | | - John Kennedy
- Department of Physics, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 63103, USA
| | - Paolo Segre
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | | | - Caroline Weir
- Falklands Conservation, Stanley FIQQ 1ZZ, Falkland Islands
| | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
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.
Collapse
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
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Shuert CR, Marcoux M, Hussey NE, Watt CA, Auger-Méthé M. Assessing the post-release effects of capture, handling and placement of satellite telemetry devices on narwhal (Monodon monoceros) movement behaviour. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coaa128. [PMID: 33659061 PMCID: PMC7905160 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coaa128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Animal-borne telemetry devices have become a popular and valuable means for studying the cryptic lives of cetaceans. Evaluating the effect of capture, handling and tagging procedures remains largely unassessed across species. Here, we examine the effect of capture, handling and tagging activities on an iconic Arctic cetacean, the narwhal (Monodon monoceros), which has previously been shown to exhibit an extreme response to extended capture and handling. Using accelerometry-derived metrics of behaviour, including activity level, energy expenditure and swimming activity, we quantify the post-release responses and time to recovery of 19 individuals following capture and tagging activities considering the intrinsic covariates of sex and individual size and the extrinsic covariates of handling time and presence of a 'bolt-on' satellite telemetry device. From accelerometer-derived behaviour, most narwhals appeared to return to mean baseline behaviour (recovery) within 24 hours after release, which was supported by longer-term measures of diving data. None of the covariates measured, however, had an effect on the time individuals took to recover following release. Using generalized additive models to describe changes in behaviour over time, we found handling time to be a significant predictor of activity levels, energy expenditure and swimming behaviour following release. Individuals held for the longest period (>40 min) were found to display the largest effect in behaviour immediately following release with respect to swimming behaviour and activity levels. We also found some support for relationships between activity levels, energy expenditure and swimming activity and two other covariates: sex and the attachment of a bolt-on configuration satellite tags. Our results indicate that narwhals recover relatively quickly following capture, handling and tagging procedures, but we suggest that researchers should minimize handling time and further investigation is needed on how to mitigate potential effects of bolt-on satellite tags in these sensitive species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Courtney R Shuert
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Marianne Marcoux
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Nigel E Hussey
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Cortney A Watt
- Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Marie Auger-Méthé
- Department of Statistics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Institute for the Oceans & Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Flammang BE, Marras S, Anderson EJ, Lehmkuhl O, Mukherjee A, Cade DE, Beckert M, Nadler JH, Houzeaux G, Vázquez M, Amplo HE, Calambokidis J, Friedlaender AS, Goldbogen JA. Remoras pick where they stick on blue whales. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 223:223/20/jeb226654. [PMID: 33115921 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.226654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Animal-borne video recordings from blue whales in the open ocean show that remoras preferentially adhere to specific regions on the surface of the whale. Using empirical and computational fluid dynamics analyses, we show that remora attachment was specific to regions of separating flow and wakes caused by surface features on the whale. Adhesion at these locations offers remoras drag reduction of up to 71-84% compared with the freestream. Remoras were observed to move freely along the surface of the whale using skimming and sliding behaviors. Skimming provided drag reduction as high as 50-72% at some locations for some remora sizes, but little to none was available in regions where few to no remoras were observed. Experimental work suggests that the Venturi effect may help remoras stay near the whale while skimming. Understanding the flow environment around a swimming blue whale will inform the placement of biosensor tags to increase attachment time for extended ecological monitoring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brooke E Flammang
- Federated Department of Biological Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Simone Marras
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA.,Center for Applied Mathematics and Statistics, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Erik J Anderson
- Department of Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering (Guest Investigator), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Grove City College, Grove City, PA 16127, USA
| | - Oriol Lehmkuhl
- Department of Computer Applications in Science and Engineering, Barcelona Supercomputing Center, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Abhishek Mukherjee
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - David E Cade
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA.,Institute for Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, 15 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95003, USA
| | - Michael Beckert
- Advanced Concepts Research Laboratory, Georgia Tech Research Institute, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.,Exponent Engineering and Scientific Consulting, 3350 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1125, Atlanta, GA 30326, USA
| | - Jason H Nadler
- Advanced Concepts Research Laboratory, Georgia Tech Research Institute, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Guillaume Houzeaux
- Department of Computer Applications in Science and Engineering, Barcelona Supercomputing Center, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mariano Vázquez
- Department of Computer Applications in Science and Engineering, Barcelona Supercomputing Center, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Haley E Amplo
- Federated Department of Biological Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | | | - Ari S Friedlaender
- Institute for Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, 15 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95003, USA
| | - Jeremy A Goldbogen
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Behavioural Evaluation of a Leash Tension Meter Which Measures Pull Direction and Force during Human-Dog on-Leash Walks. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10081382. [PMID: 32785117 PMCID: PMC7460501 DOI: 10.3390/ani10081382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary A tense leash when walking a dog is a critical animal welfare issue as it potentially causes damage to a dog’s neck and eyes. This article introduces an innovative canine leash tension meter, for dogs walked on-leash, considering effects of dog age, size–weight, and dogs’ behaviour during walks, to validate the meter. It is confirmed that this device is a robust and valid approach in exploring interactions between dogs and humans when walking on a leash, by real-time measuring the leash tension and differentiating who, dog or human, is pulling the leash. Abstract Leash tension forces exerted by dog and handler during walks affect their welfare. We developed a novel ambulatory measurement device using a load cell and a tri-axial accelerometer to record both the tension and direction of forces exerted on the leashes. Data were relayed telemetrically to a laptop for real time viewing and recording. Larger and heavier dogs exerted higher leash tension but had a lower pulling frequency than their smaller and lighter conspecifics. This pattern was observed in the reactional forces of handlers. Young dogs pulled more frequently during walks, which was also mirrored in handlers’ pulling. Well-behaved dogs created lower leash tension, but handlers did not respond with lower forces. This novel method of recording leash tension will facilitate real-time monitoring of the behaviour of dogs and their handlers during walks.
Collapse
|
18
|
Cade DE, Levenson JJ, Cooper R, de la Parra R, Webb DH, Dove ADM. Whale sharks increase swimming effort while filter feeding, but appear to maintain high foraging efficiencies. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb224402. [PMID: 32366692 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.224402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2020] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) - the largest extant fish species - reside in tropical environments, making them an exception to the general rule that animal size increases with latitude. How this largest fish thrives in tropical environments that promote high metabolism but support less robust zooplankton communities has not been sufficiently explained. We used open-source inertial measurement units (IMU) to log 397 h of whale shark behavior in Yucatán, Mexico, at a site of both active feeding and intense wildlife tourism. Here we show that the strategies employed by whale sharks to compensate for the increased drag of an open mouth are similar to ram feeders five orders of magnitude smaller and one order of magnitude larger. Presumed feeding constituted 20% of the total time budget of four sharks, with individual feeding bouts lasting up to 11 consecutive hours. Compared with normal, sub-surface swimming, three sharks increased their stroke rate and amplitude while surface feeding, while one shark that fed at depth did not demonstrate a greatly increased energetic cost. Additionally, based on time-depth budgets, we estimate that aerial surveys of shark populations should consider including a correction factor of 3 to account for the proportion of daylight hours that sharks are not visible at the surface. With foraging bouts generally lasting several hours, interruptions to foraging during critical feeding periods may represent substantial energetic costs to these endangered species, and this study presents baseline data from which management decisions affecting tourist interactions with whale sharks may be made.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David E Cade
- Institute of Marine Science, University of California, Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - J Jacob Levenson
- US Department of Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240, USA
| | - Robert Cooper
- Oceans Forward, 17 Hamilton St, Plymouth, MA 02360, USA
| | | | - D Harry Webb
- Research and Conservation Department, Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker St, Atlanta, GA 30313, USA
| | - Alistair D M Dove
- Research and Conservation Department, Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker St, Atlanta, GA 30313, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Abstract
A whale leaping above the surface expends an enormous amount of energy, displaying its health and strength to peers and potential mates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J Werth
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney CollegeHampden-SydneyUnited States
| | - Charles L Lemon
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney CollegeHampden-SydneyUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Segre PS, Potvin J, Cade DE, Calambokidis J, Di Clemente J, Fish FE, Friedlaender AS, Gough WT, Kahane-Rapport SR, Oliveira C, Parks SE, Penry GS, Simon M, Stimpert AK, Wiley DN, Bierlich KC, Madsen PT, Goldbogen JA. Energetic and physical limitations on the breaching performance of large whales. eLife 2020; 9:e51760. [PMID: 32159511 PMCID: PMC7065846 DOI: 10.7554/elife.51760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The considerable power needed for large whales to leap out of the water may represent the single most expensive burst maneuver found in nature. However, the mechanics and energetic costs associated with the breaching behaviors of large whales remain poorly understood. In this study we deployed whale-borne tags to measure the kinematics of breaching to test the hypothesis that these spectacular aerial displays are metabolically expensive. We found that breaching whales use variable underwater trajectories, and that high-emergence breaches are faster and require more energy than predatory lunges. The most expensive breaches approach the upper limits of vertebrate muscle performance, and the energetic cost of breaching is high enough that repeated breaching events may serve as honest signaling of body condition. Furthermore, the confluence of muscle contractile properties, hydrodynamics, and the high speeds required likely impose an upper limit to the body size and effectiveness of breaching whales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paolo S Segre
- Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford UniversityPacific GroveUnited States
| | | | - David E Cade
- Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford UniversityPacific GroveUnited States
| | | | | | - Frank E Fish
- West Chester UniversityWest ChesterUnited States
| | - Ari S Friedlaender
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of CaliforniaSanta CruzUnited States
| | - William T Gough
- Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford UniversityPacific GroveUnited States
| | | | - Cláudia Oliveira
- Okeanos R&D Centre and the Institute of Marine Research, University of the AzoresHortaPortugal
| | - Susan E Parks
- Department of Biology, Syracuse UniversitySyracuseUnited States
| | - Gwenith S Penry
- Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela UniversityPort ElizabethSouth Africa
| | - Malene Simon
- Department of Birds and Mammals, Greenland Institute of Natural ResourcesNuukGreenland
| | - Alison K Stimpert
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, San Jose State UniversitySan JoseUnited States
| | - David N Wiley
- Stellwagen Bank National Marine SanctuaryScituateUnited States
| | - KC Bierlich
- Duke University Marine LaboratoryPiver’s IslandUnited States
| | - Peter T Madsen
- Aarhus Institute for Advanced Studies, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
- Zoophysiology, Department of BioscienceAarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Tackaberry JE, Cade DE, Goldbogen JA, Wiley DN, Friedlaender AS, Stimpert AK. From a calf's perspective: humpback whale nursing behavior on two US feeding grounds. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8538. [PMID: 32181052 PMCID: PMC7060748 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Nursing influences growth rate and overall health of mammals; however, the behavior is difficult to study in wild cetaceans because it occurs below the surface and can thus be misidentified from surface observations. Nursing has been observed in humpback whales on the breeding and calving grounds, but the behavior remains unstudied on the feeding grounds. We instrumented three dependent calves (four total deployments) with combined video and 3D-accelerometer data loggers (CATS) on two United States feeding grounds to document nursing events. Two associated mothers were also tagged to determine if behavior diagnostic of nursing was evident in the mother’s movement. Animal-borne video was manually analyzed and the average duration of successful nursing events was 23 s (±7 sd, n = 11). Nursing occurred at depths between 4.1–64.4 m (along the seafloor) and in close temporal proximity to foraging events by the mothers, but could not be predicted solely by relative positions of mother and calf. When combining all calf deployments, successful nursing was documented eleven times; totaling only 0.3% of 21.0 hours of video. During nursing events, calves had higher overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA) and increased fluke-stroke rate (FSR) compared to non-nursing segments (Mixed effect models, ODBA: F1,107 = 13.57756, p = 0.0004, FSR: F1,107 = 32.31018, p < 0.0001). In contrast, mothers had lower ODBA and reduced FSR during nursing events compared to non-nursing segments. These data provide the first characterization of accelerometer data of humpback whale nursing confirmed by animal-borne video tags and the first analysis of nursing events on feeding grounds. This is an important step in understanding the energetic consequences of lactation while foraging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E Tackaberry
- Vertebrate Ecology Lab, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, CA, United States of America.,Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, WA, United States of America
| | - David E Cade
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, United States of America
| | - Jeremy A Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, United States of America
| | - David N Wiley
- Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Situate, MA, United States of America
| | - Ari S Friedlaender
- University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America
| | - Alison K Stimpert
- Vertebrate Ecology Lab, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, CA, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
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
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Segre PS, Cade DE, Calambokidis J, Fish FE, Friedlaender AS, Potvin J, Goldbogen JA. Body Flexibility Enhances Maneuverability in the World's Largest Predator. Integr Comp Biol 2019; 59:48-60. [PMID: 30445585 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icy121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Blue whales are often characterized as highly stable, open-ocean swimmers who sacrifice maneuverability for long-distance cruising performance. However, recent studies have revealed that blue whales actually exhibit surprisingly complex underwater behaviors, yet little is known about the performance and control of these maneuvers. Here, we use multi-sensor biologgers equipped with cameras to quantify the locomotor dynamics and the movement of the control surfaces used by foraging blue whales. Our results revealed that simple maneuvers (rolls, turns, and pitch changes) are performed using distinct combinations of control and power provided by the flippers, the flukes, and bending of the body, while complex trajectories are structured by combining sequences of simple maneuvers. Furthermore, blue whales improve their turning performance by using complex banked turns to take advantage of their substantial dorso-ventral flexibility. These results illustrate the important role body flexibility plays in enhancing control and performance of maneuvers, even in the largest of animals. The use of the body to supplement the performance of the hydrodynamically active surfaces may represent a new mechanism in the control of aquatic locomotion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P S Segre
- Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, United States
| | - D E Cade
- Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, United States
| | - J Calambokidis
- Cascadia Research Collective, 218 1/2 4th Avenue W, Olympia, WA 98501, USA
| | - F E Fish
- West Chester University, 750 South Church Street, West Chester, PA 19383, USA
| | - A S Friedlaender
- University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - J Potvin
- Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 63103, USA
| | - J A Goldbogen
- Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, United States
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Hoop JM, Nousek‐McGregor AE, Nowacek DP, Parks SE, Tyack P, Madsen PT. Foraging rates of ram‐filtering North Atlantic right whales. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Douglas P. Nowacek
- Nicholas School of the Environment & Pratt School of Engineering Duke University Beaufort North California
| | - Susan E. Parks
- Biology Department Syracuse University Syracuse New York
| | - Peter Tyack
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | - Peter Teglberg Madsen
- Department of Bioscience Aarhus University Aarhus Denmark
- Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies Aarhus University Aarhus Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Arranz P, Benoit-Bird KJ, Friedlaender AS, Hazen EL, Goldbogen JA, Stimpert AK, DeRuiter SL, Calambokidis J, Southall BL, Fahlman A, Tyack PL. Diving Behavior and Fine-Scale Kinematics of Free-Ranging Risso's Dolphins Foraging in Shallow and Deep-Water Habitats. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
|
27
|
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.
Collapse
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
| | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Gough WT, Segre PS, Bierlich KC, Cade DE, Potvin J, Fish FE, Dale J, di Clemente J, Friedlaender AS, Johnston DW, Kahane-Rapport SR, Kennedy J, Long JH, Oudejans M, Penry G, Savoca MS, Simon M, Videsen SKA, Visser F, Wiley DN, Goldbogen JA. Scaling of swimming performance in baleen whales. J Exp Biol 2019; 222:jeb.204172. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.204172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The scale-dependence of locomotor factors have long been studied in comparative biomechanics, but remain poorly understood for animals at the upper extremes of body size. Rorqual baleen whales include the largest animals, but we lack basic kinematic data about their movements and behavior below the ocean surface. Here we combined morphometrics from aerial drone photogrammetry, whale-borne inertial sensing tag data, and hydrodynamic modeling to study the locomotion of five rorqual species. We quantified changes in tail oscillatory frequency and cruising speed for individual whales spanning a threefold variation in body length, corresponding to an order of magnitude variation in estimated body mass. Our results showed that oscillatory frequency decreases with body length (∝ length−0.53) while cruising speed remains roughly invariant (∝ length0.08) at 2 m s−1. We compared these measured results for oscillatory frequency against simplified models of an oscillating cantilever beam (∝ length−1) and an optimized oscillating Strouhal vortex generator (∝ length−1). The difference between our length-scaling exponent and the simplified models suggests that animals are often swimming non-optimally in order to feed or perform other routine behaviors. Cruising speed aligned more closely with an estimate of the optimal speed required to minimize the energetic cost of swimming (∝ length0.07). Our results are among the first to elucidate the relationships between both oscillatory frequency and cruising speed and body size for free-swimming animals at the largest scale.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William T. Gough
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - Paolo S. Segre
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - K. C. Bierlich
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - David E. Cade
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - Jean Potvin
- Department of Physics, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 633103, USA
| | - Frank E. Fish
- Department of Biology, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383, USA
| | - Julian Dale
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | | | - Ari S. Friedlaender
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - David W. Johnston
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | | | - John Kennedy
- Department of Physics, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 633103, USA
| | - John H. Long
- Departments of Biology and Cognitive Science, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA
| | | | - Gwenith Penry
- Department of Zoology, Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
| | - Matthew S. Savoca
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - Malene Simon
- Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Simone K. A. Videsen
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Faculty of Science and Technology, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark
| | - Fleur Visser
- Kelp Marine Research, Hoorn, the Netherlands
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics – Freshwater and Marine Ecology, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Texel, the Netherlands
| | - David N. Wiley
- US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Scituate, MA 02066, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|