1
|
Pirotta E, Booth CG, Calambokidis J, Costa DP, Fahlbusch JA, Friedlaender AS, Goldbogen JA, Harwood J, Hazen EL, New L, Santora JA, Watwood SL, Wertman C, Southall BL. From individual responses to population effects: Integrating a decade of multidisciplinary research on blue whales and sonar. Anim Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- E. Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University College Cork Cork Ireland
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics Washington State University Vancouver WA USA
| | - C. G. Booth
- SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | | | - D. P. Costa
- Institute of Marine Sciences University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
| | - J. A. Fahlbusch
- Cascadia Research Collective Olympia WA USA
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University Pacific Grove CA USA
| | - A. S. Friedlaender
- Institute of Marine Sciences University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc. Aptos CA USA
| | - J. A. Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University Pacific Grove CA USA
| | - J. Harwood
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
- SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans Institute University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | - E. L. Hazen
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station Stanford University Pacific Grove CA USA
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center Environmental Research Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Monterey CA USA
| | - L. New
- Ursinus College Collegeville PA USA
| | - J. A. Santora
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center Fisheries Ecology Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Santa Cruz CA USA
- Department of Applied Math University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz CA USA
| | - S. L. Watwood
- Ranges, Engineering and Analysis Department Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport RI USA
| | - C. Wertman
- Ranges, Engineering and Analysis Department Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport RI USA
| | - B. L. Southall
- Institute of Marine Sciences University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc. Aptos CA USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Durban JW, Southall BL, Calambokidis J, Casey C, Fearnbach H, Joyce TW, Fahlbusch JA, Oudejans MG, Fregosi S, Friedlaender AS, Kellar NM, Visser F. Integrating remote sensing methods during controlled exposure experiments to quantify group responses of dolphins to navy sonar. Mar Pollut Bull 2022; 174:113194. [PMID: 34902768 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Human noise can be harmful to sound-centric marine mammals. Significant research has focused on characterizing behavioral responses of protected cetacean species to navy mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS). Controlled exposure experiments (CEE) using animal-borne tags have proved valuable, but smaller dolphins are not amenable to tagging and groups of interacting individuals are more relevant behavioral units for these social species. To fill key data gaps on group responses of social delphinids that are exposed to navy MFAS in large numbers, we describe novel approaches for the coordinated collection and integrated analysis of multiple remotely-sensed datasets during CEEs. This involves real-time coordination of a sonar source, shore-based group tracking, aerial photogrammetry to measure fine-scale movements and passive acoustics to quantify vocal activity. Using an example CEE involving long-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis bairdii), we demonstrate how resultant quantitative metrics can be used to estimate behavioral changes and noise exposure-response relationships.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J W Durban
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc., 9099 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003, USA; Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| | - B L Southall
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc., 9099 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003, USA; Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - J Calambokidis
- Cascadia Research Collective, 218 1/2 W 4th Ave., Olympia, WA 98501, USA
| | - C Casey
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc., 9099 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003, USA; Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - H Fearnbach
- SR3 SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation and Research, 2003 S. 216th St. #98811, Des Moines, WA 98198, USA
| | - T W Joyce
- Environmental Assessment Services, 350 Hills St., Suite 112, Richland, WA 99354, USA
| | - J A Fahlbusch
- Cascadia Research Collective, 218 1/2 W 4th Ave., Olympia, WA 98501, USA; Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - M G Oudejans
- Kelp Marine Research, 1624 CJ Hoorn, the Netherlands
| | - S Fregosi
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc., 9099 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003, USA
| | - A S Friedlaender
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc., 9099 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003, USA; Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - N M Kellar
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - F Visser
- Kelp Marine Research, 1624 CJ Hoorn, the Netherlands; Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94240, 1090 GE Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Coastal Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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
|
4
|
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: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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
|
5
|
Norman S, Hanson M, Huggins J, Lambourn D, Calambokidis J, Cottrell P, Greene A, Raverty S, Berta S, Dubpernell S, Klope M, Olson J, Jeffries S, Carrasco M, Souze V, Elsby A, McLean C, Carlson B, Emmons C, Gaydos J. Conception, fetal growth, and calving seasonality of harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in the Salish Sea waters of Washington, USA, and southern British Columbia, Canada. CAN J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2017-0155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We evaluated harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena (Linnaeus, 1758)) strandings in the Salish Sea to determine calving seasonality (1980–2015). A total of 443 strandings were analyzed, of which 134 were calves and 53 were neonates. Stranded calves were reported every month, but peaked in July, August, and September. Based on fetal size and an estimated fetal growth rate of 80 mm/month, mean (±SD) conception date (and range) was back-calculated to 11 October ± 30 days (16 August – 31 December) and was later than in most other studies. Using mean (±SD) length at birth (80 ± 5.8 cm), gestation was estimated to be approximately 10.8 months. Estimated birthing period was 16 July – 27 November, with a mean (±SD) birth date of 10 September (±30.7 days) and a birth length of 80.0 cm. Estimated pregnancy rate (0.28–0.29) is lower than reported in other areas and is likely an underestimate due to missed early embryos, poor postmortem condition of a large proportion of the stranded adult females, and potential biases related to the animals that strand and are available. This study of harbor porpoise reproduction and calving in the Salish Sea is the first assessment of calving seasonality for this species in the northeast Pacific Ocean.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S.A. Norman
- Marine-Med: Marine Research, Epidemiology, and Veterinary Medicine, 24225 15th Place Southeast, Bothell, WA 98021, USA
| | - M.B. Hanson
- NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA 98112, USA
| | - J. Huggins
- Cascadia Research, 218½ West Fourth Avenue, Olympia, WA 98501, USA
| | - D. Lambourn
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Marine Mammal Investigations, 7801 Phillips Road Southwest, Lakewood, WA 98498, USA
| | - J. Calambokidis
- Cascadia Research, 218½ West Fourth Avenue, Olympia, WA 98501, USA
| | - P. Cottrell
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Fisheries Management Branch, Suite 200-401 Burrard, Vancouver, BC V6C 3S4, Canada
| | - A. Greene
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Fisheries Management Branch, Suite 200-401 Burrard, Vancouver, BC V6C 3S4, Canada
| | - S. Raverty
- Animal Health Centre, BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, 1767 Angus Campbell Road, Abbotsford, BC V3G 2M3, Canada
| | - S. Berta
- Orca Network, Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network, 485 Labella Vista Way, Freeland, WA 98249, USA
| | - S. Dubpernell
- Orca Network, Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network, 485 Labella Vista Way, Freeland, WA 98249, USA
| | - M. Klope
- Orca Network, Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network, 485 Labella Vista Way, Freeland, WA 98249, USA
| | - J.K. Olson
- The Whale Museum, 62 First Street North, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, USA
| | - S.J. Jeffries
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Marine Mammal Investigations, 7801 Phillips Road Southwest, Lakewood, WA 98498, USA
| | - M. Carrasco
- Whatcom County Marine Mammal Stranding Network, 3842 Legoe Bay Road, Lummi Island, WA 98262, USA
| | - V. Souze
- Whatcom County Marine Mammal Stranding Network, 3842 Legoe Bay Road, Lummi Island, WA 98262, USA
| | - A. Elsby
- Whatcom County Marine Mammal Stranding Network, 3842 Legoe Bay Road, Lummi Island, WA 98262, USA
| | - C. McLean
- Port Townsend Marine Science Center, 532 Battery Way, Port Townsend, WA 98368, USA
| | - B. Carlson
- Port Townsend Marine Science Center, 532 Battery Way, Port Townsend, WA 98368, USA
| | - C. Emmons
- NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA 98112, USA
| | - J.K. Gaydos
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center-Orcas Island Office, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, 942 Deer Harbor Road, Eastsound, WA 98245, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Goldbogen JA, Cade DE, Boersma AT, Calambokidis J, Kahane-Rapport SR, Segre PS, Stimpert AK, Friedlaender AS. Using Digital Tags With Integrated Video and Inertial Sensors to Study Moving Morphology and Associated Function in Large Aquatic Vertebrates. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2018; 300:1935-1941. [PMID: 28971623 DOI: 10.1002/ar.23650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The anatomy of large cetaceans has been well documented, mostly through dissection of dead specimens. However, the difficulty of studying the world's largest animals in their natural environment means the functions of anatomical structures must be inferred. Recently, non-invasive tracking devices have been developed that measure body position and orientation, thereby enabling the detailed reconstruction of underwater trajectories. The addition of cameras to the whale-borne tags allows the sensor data to be matched with real-time observations of how whales use their morphological structures, such as flukes, flippers, feeding apparatuses, and blowholes for the physiological functions of locomotion, feeding, and breathing. Here, we describe a new tag design with integrated video and inertial sensors and how it can be used to provide insights to the function of whale anatomy. This technology has the potential to facilitate a wide range of discoveries and comparative studies, but many challenges remain to increase the resolution and applicability of the data. Anat Rec, 300:1935-1941, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J A Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California
| | - D E Cade
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California
| | - A T Boersma
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California
| | | | - S R Kahane-Rapport
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California
| | - P S Segre
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California
| | - A K Stimpert
- Vertebrate Ecology Laboratory, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, California
| | - A S Friedlaender
- Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, Oregon
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Goldbogen JA, Cade DE, Calambokidis J, Friedlaender AS, Potvin J, Segre PS, Werth AJ. How Baleen Whales Feed: The Biomechanics of Engulfment and Filtration. Ann Rev Mar Sci 2017; 9:367-386. [PMID: 27620830 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-122414-033905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Baleen whales are gigantic obligate filter feeders that exploit aggregations of small-bodied prey in littoral, epipelagic, and mesopelagic ecosystems. At the extreme of maximum body size observed among mammals, baleen whales exhibit a unique combination of high overall energetic demands and low mass-specific metabolic rates. As a result, most baleen whale species have evolved filter-feeding mechanisms and foraging strategies that take advantage of seasonally abundant yet patchily and ephemerally distributed prey resources. New methodologies consisting of multi-sensor tags, active acoustic prey mapping, and hydrodynamic modeling have revolutionized our ability to study the physiology and ecology of baleen whale feeding mechanisms. Here, we review the current state of the field by exploring several hypotheses that aim to explain how baleen whales feed. Despite significant advances, major questions remain about the processes that underlie these extreme feeding mechanisms, which enabled the evolution of the largest animals of all time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J A Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California 93950; , ,
| | - D E Cade
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California 93950; , ,
| | - J Calambokidis
- Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, Washington 98501;
| | - A S Friedlaender
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, Oregon 97365;
| | - J Potvin
- Department of Physics, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri 63103;
| | - P S Segre
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California 93950; , ,
| | - A J Werth
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, Virginia 23943;
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Arranz P, DeRuiter SL, Stimpert AK, Neves S, Friedlaender AS, Goldbogen JA, Visser F, Calambokidis J, Southall BL, Tyack PL. Discrimination of fast click-series produced by tagged Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) for echolocation or communication. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 219:2898-2907. [PMID: 27401759 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.144295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Early studies that categorized odontocete pulsed sounds had few means of discriminating signals used for biosonar-based foraging from those used for communication. This capability to identify the function of sounds is important for understanding and interpreting behavior; it is also essential for monitoring and mitigating potential disturbance from human activities. Archival tags were placed on free-ranging Grampus griseus to quantify and discriminate between pulsed sounds used for echolocation-based foraging and those used for communication. Two types of rapid click-series pulsed sounds, buzzes and burst pulses, were identified as produced by the tagged dolphins and classified using a Gaussian mixture model based on their duration, association with jerk (i.e. rapid change of acceleration) and temporal association with click trains. Buzzes followed regular echolocation clicks and coincided with a strong jerk signal from accelerometers on the tag. They consisted of series averaging 359±210 clicks (mean±s.d.) with an increasing repetition rate and relatively low amplitude. Burst pulses consisted of relatively short click series averaging 45±54 clicks with decreasing repetition rate and longer inter-click interval that were less likely to be associated with regular echolocation and the jerk signal. These results suggest that the longer, relatively lower amplitude, jerk-associated buzzes are used in this species to capture prey, mostly during the bottom phase of foraging dives, as seen in other odontocetes. In contrast, the shorter, isolated burst pulses that are generally emitted by the dolphins while at or near the surface are used outside of a direct, known foraging context.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P Arranz
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 8LB, UK
| | - S L DeRuiter
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9LZ, UK Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA
| | - A K Stimpert
- Vertebrate Ecology Lab, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA
| | - S Neves
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 8LB, UK
| | - A S Friedlaender
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97635, USA
| | - J A Goldbogen
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - F Visser
- Kelp Marine Research, Hoorn 1624 CJ, The Netherlands Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden 2311, The Netherlands
| | | | - B L Southall
- Southall Environmental Associates, Aptos, CA 95003, USA University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - P L Tyack
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 8LB, UK
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Friedlaender AS, Hazen EL, Goldbogen JA, Stimpert AK, Calambokidis J, Southall BL. Prey-mediated behavioral responses of feeding blue whales in controlled sound exposure experiments. Ecol Appl 2016; 26:1075-1085. [PMID: 27509749 DOI: 10.1002/15-0783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Behavioral response studies provide significant insights into the nature, magnitude, and consequences of changes in animal behavior in response to some external stimulus. Controlled exposure experiments (CEEs) to study behavioral response have faced challenges in quantifying the importance of and interaction among individual variability, exposure conditions, and environmental covariates. To investigate these complex parameters relative to blue whale behavior and how it may change as a function of certain sounds, we deployed multi-sensor acoustic tags and conducted CEEs using simulated mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS) and pseudo-random noise (PRN) stimuli, while collecting synoptic, quantitative prey measures. In contrast to previous approaches that lacked such prey data, our integrated approach explained substantially more variance in blue whale dive behavioral responses to mid-frequency sounds (r2 = 0.725 vs. 0.14 previously). Results demonstrate that deep-feeding whales respond more clearly and strongly to CEEs than those in other behavioral states, but this was only evident with the increased explanatory power provided by incorporating prey density and distribution as contextual covariates. Including contextual variables increases the ability to characterize behavioral variability and empirically strengthens previous findings that deep-feeding blue whales respond significantly to mid-frequency sound exposure. However, our results are only based on a single behavioral state with a limited sample size, and this analytical framework should be applied broadly across behavioral states. The increased capability to describe and account for individual response variability by including environmental variables, such as prey, that drive foraging behavior underscores the importance of integrating these and other relevant contextual parameters in experimental designs. Our results suggest the need to measure and account for the ecological dynamics of predator-prey interactions when studying the effects of anthropogenic disturbance in feeding animals.
Collapse
|
10
|
Segre PS, Cade DE, Fish FE, Potvin J, Allen AN, Calambokidis J, Friedlaender AS, Goldbogen JA. Hydrodynamic properties of fin whale flippers predict maximum rolling performance. J Exp Biol 2016; 219:3315-3320. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.137091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Maneuverability is one of the most important and least understood aspects of animal locomotion. The hydrofoil-like flippers of cetaceans are thought to function as control surfaces that effect maneuvers, but quantitative tests of this hypothesis have been lacking. Here we construct a simple hydrodynamic model to predict the longitudinal-axis roll performance of fin whales, and we test its predictions against kinematic data recorded by on-board movement sensors from 27 free-swimming fin whales. We found that for a given swimming speed and roll excursion, the roll velocity of fin whales calculated from our field data agrees well with that predicted by our hydrodynamic model. Although fluke and body torsion may further influence performance, our results indicate that lift generated by the flippers is sufficient to drive most of the longitudinal-axis rolls used by fin whales for feeding and maneuvering.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P. S. Segre
- 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
| | - F. E. Fish
- Department of Biology, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383, USA
| | - J. Potvin
- Department of Physics, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA
| | - A. N. Allen
- Cascadia Research Collective, 218 ½ W. 4th Avenue, Olympia, WA 98501, USA
| | - J. Calambokidis
- Cascadia Research Collective, 218 ½ W. 4th Avenue, Olympia, WA 98501, USA
| | - A. S. Friedlaender
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | - J. A. Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
McKenna MF, Calambokidis J, Oleson EM, Laist DW, Goldbogen JA. Simultaneous tracking of blue whales and large ships demonstrates limited behavioral responses for avoiding collision. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2015. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
|
12
|
Gendron D, Martinez Serrano I, Ugalde de la Cruz A, Calambokidis J, Mate B. Long-term individual sighting history database: an effective tool to monitor satellite tag effects on cetaceans. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2015. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
|
13
|
Stimpert AK, DeRuiter SL, Southall BL, Moretti DJ, Falcone EA, Goldbogen JA, Friedlaender A, Schorr GS, Calambokidis J. Acoustic and foraging behavior of a Baird's beaked whale, Berardius bairdii, exposed to simulated sonar. Sci Rep 2014; 4:7031. [PMID: 25391309 PMCID: PMC4229675 DOI: 10.1038/srep07031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Beaked whales are hypothesized to be particularly sensitive to anthropogenic noise, based on previous strandings and limited experimental and observational data. However, few species have been studied in detail. We describe the underwater behavior of a Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii) from the first deployment of a multi-sensor acoustic tag on this species. The animal exhibited shallow (23 ± 15 m max depth), intermediate (324 ± 49 m), and deep (1138 ± 243 m) dives. Echolocation clicks were produced with a mean inter-click interval of approximately 300 ms and peak frequency of 25 kHz. Two deep dives included presumed foraging behavior, with echolocation pulsed sounds (presumed prey capture attempts) associated with increased maneuvering, and sustained inverted swimming during the bottom phase of the dive. A controlled exposure to simulated mid-frequency active sonar (3.5-4 kHz) was conducted 4 hours after tag deployment, and within 3 minutes of exposure onset, the tagged whale increased swim speed and body movement, and continued to show unusual dive behavior for each of its next three dives, one of each type. These are the first data on the acoustic foraging behavior in this largest beaked whale species, and the first experimental demonstration of a response to simulated sonar.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A K Stimpert
- 1] Department of Oceanography, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA [2] Vertebrate Ecology Lab, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, CA
| | - S L DeRuiter
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modeling, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, UK
| | - B L Southall
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc., Aptos, CA
| | | | | | - J A Goldbogen
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA
| | - A Friedlaender
- Sea and Marine Mammal Institute, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR
| | - G S Schorr
- Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, WA
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Straley JM, Schorr GS, Thode AM, Calambokidis J, Lunsford CR, Chenoweth EM, O’Connell VM, Andrews RD. Depredating sperm whales in the Gulf of Alaska: local habitat use and long distance movements across putative population boundaries. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2014. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
|
15
|
Sears R, Ramp C, Douglas AB, Calambokidis J. Reproductive parameters of eastern North Pacific blue whales Balaenoptera musculus. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2013. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
|
16
|
Redfern JV, McKenna MF, Moore TJ, Calambokidis J, Deangelis ML, Becker EA, Barlow J, Forney KA, Fiedler PC, Chivers SJ. Assessing the risk of ships striking large whales in marine spatial planning. Conserv Biol 2013; 27:292-302. [PMID: 23521668 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2011] [Accepted: 10/30/2012] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Marine spatial planning provides a comprehensive framework for managing multiple uses of the marine environment and has the potential to minimize environmental impacts and reduce conflicts among users. Spatially explicit assessments of the risks to key marine species from human activities are a requirement of marine spatial planning. We assessed the risk of ships striking humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), blue (Balaenoptera musculus), and fin (Balaenoptera physalus) whales in alternative shipping routes derived from patterns of shipping traffic off Southern California (U.S.A.). Specifically, we developed whale-habitat models and assumed ship-strike risk for the alternative shipping routes was proportional to the number of whales predicted by the models to occur within each route. This definition of risk assumes all ships travel within a single route. We also calculated risk assuming ships travel via multiple routes. We estimated the potential for conflict between shipping and other uses (military training and fishing) due to overlap with the routes. We also estimated the overlap between shipping routes and protected areas. The route with the lowest risk for humpback whales had the highest risk for fin whales and vice versa. Risk to both species may be ameliorated by creating a new route south of the northern Channel Islands and spreading traffic between this new route and the existing route in the Santa Barbara Channel. Creating a longer route may reduce the overlap between shipping and other uses by concentrating shipping traffic. Blue whales are distributed more evenly across our study area than humpback and fin whales; thus, risk could not be ameliorated by concentrating shipping traffic in any of the routes we considered. Reducing ship-strike risk for blue whales may be necessary because our estimate of the potential number of strikes suggests that they are likely to exceed allowable levels of anthropogenic impacts established under U.S. laws.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J V Redfern
- Protected Resources Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, U.S.A.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Weller DW, Klimek A, Bradford AL, Calambokidis J, Lang AR, Gisborne B, Burdin AM, Szaniszlo W, Urbán J, Gomez-Gallardo Unzueta A, Swartz S, Brownell RL. Movements of gray whales between the western and eastern North Pacific. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2012. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
|
18
|
Goldbogen JA, Calambokidis J, Oleson E, Potvin J, Pyenson ND, Schorr G, Shadwick RE. Mechanics, hydrodynamics and energetics of blue whale lunge feeding: efficiency dependence on krill density. J Exp Biol 2011. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.054726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|
19
|
Goldbogen JA, Calambokidis J, Oleson E, Potvin J, Pyenson ND, Schorr G, Shadwick RE. Mechanics, hydrodynamics and energetics of blue whale lunge feeding: efficiency dependence on krill density. J Exp Biol 2011; 214:131-46. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.048157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARY
Lunge feeding by rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae) is associated with a high energetic cost that decreases diving capacity, thereby limiting access to dense prey patches at depth. Despite this cost, rorquals exhibit high rates of lipid deposition and extremely large maximum body size. To address this paradox, we integrated kinematic data from digital tags with unsteady hydrodynamic models to estimate the energy budget for lunges and foraging dives of blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus), the largest rorqual and living mammal. Our analysis suggests that, despite the large amount of mechanical work required to lunge feed, a large amount of prey and, therefore, energy is obtained during engulfment. Furthermore, we suggest that foraging efficiency for blue whales is significantly higher than for other marine mammals by nearly an order of magnitude, but only if lunges target extremely high densities of krill. The high predicted efficiency is attributed to the enhanced engulfment capacity, rapid filter rate and low mass-specific metabolic rate associated with large body size in blue whales. These results highlight the importance of high prey density, regardless of prey patch depth, for efficient bulk filter feeding in baleen whales and may explain some diel changes in foraging behavior in rorqual whales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J. A. Goldbogen
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093-0205, USA
| | - J. Calambokidis
- Cascadia Research Collective, 218 W. 4th Ave., Olympia, WA 98501, USA
| | - E. Oleson
- Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, NMFS/NOAA, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - J. Potvin
- Department of Physics, Saint Louis University, 3450 Lindell Boulevard, Saint Louis, MO 63103, USA
| | - N. D. Pyenson
- Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA
| | - G. Schorr
- Cascadia Research Collective, 218 W. 4th Ave., Olympia, WA 98501, USA
| | - R. E. Shadwick
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 124
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Steiger GH, Calambokidis J, Straley JM, Herman LM, Cerchio S, Salden DR, Urbán-R J, Jacobsen JK, von Ziegesar O, Balcomb KC, Gabriele CM, Dahlheim ME, Uchida S, Ford JKB, Ladrón de Guevara-P P, Yamaguchi M, Barlow J. Geographic variation in killer whale attacks on humpback whales in the North Pacific: implications for predation pressure. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2008. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
|
21
|
McDonald MA, Calambokidis J, Teranishi AM, Hildebrand JA. The acoustic calls of blue whales off California with gender data. J Acoust Soc Am 2001; 109:1728-1735. [PMID: 11325141 DOI: 10.1121/1.1353593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The acoustic calls of blue whales off California are described with visual observations of behavior and with acoustic tracking. Acoustic call data with corresponding position tracks are analyzed for five calling blue whales during one 100-min time period. Three of the five animals produced type A-B calls while two produced another call type which we refer to as type D. One of the animals producing the A-B call type was identified as male. Pauses in call production corresponded to visually observed breathing intervals. There was no apparent coordination between the calling whales. The average call source level was calculated to be 186 dB re: 1 muPa at 1 m over the 10-110-Hz band for the type B calls. On two separate days, female blue whales were observed to be silent during respective monitoring periods of 20 min and 1 h.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M A McDonald
- Cascadia Research, Olympia, Washington 98501, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Williams TM, Davis RW, Fuiman LA, Francis J, Le Boeuf BJ, Horning M, Calambokidis J, Croll DA. Sink or swim: strategies for cost-efficient diving by marine mammals. Science 2000; 288:133-6. [PMID: 10753116 DOI: 10.1126/science.288.5463.133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 310] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Locomotor activity by diving marine mammals is accomplished while breath-holding and often exceeds predicted aerobic capacities. Video sequences of freely diving seals and whales wearing submersible cameras reveal a behavioral strategy that improves energetic efficiency in these animals. Prolonged gliding (greater than 78% descent duration) occurred during dives exceeding 80 meters in depth. Gliding was attributed to buoyancy changes with lung compression at depth. By modifying locomotor patterns to take advantage of these physical changes, Weddell seals realized a 9.2 to 59.6% reduction in diving energetic costs. This energy-conserving strategy allows marine mammals to increase aerobic dive duration and achieve remarkable depths despite limited oxygen availability when submerged.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T M Williams
- Department of Biology, EMS-A316, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Baker CS, Medrano-Gonzalez L, Calambokidis J, Perry A, Pichler F, Rosenbaum H, Straley JM, Urban-Ramirez J, Yamaguchi M, von Ziegesar O. Population structure of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA variation among humpback whales in the North Pacific. Mol Ecol 1998; 7:695-707. [PMID: 9640650 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-294x.1998.00384.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The population structure of variation in a nuclear actin intron and the control region of mitochondrial DNA is described for humpback whales from eight regions in the North Pacific Ocean: central California, Baja Peninsula, nearshore Mexico (Bahia Banderas), offshore Mexico (Socorro Island), southeastern Alaska, central Alaska (Prince Williams Sound), Hawaii and Japan (Ogasawara Islands). Primary mtDNA haplotypes and intron alleles were identified using selected restriction fragment length polymorphisms of target sequences amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR-RFLP). There was little evidence of heterogeneity in the frequencies of mtDNA haplotypes or actin intron alleles due to the year or sex composition of the sample. However, frequencies of four mtDNA haplotypes showed marked regional differences in their distributions (phi ST = 0.277; P < 0.001; n = 205 individuals) while the two alleles showed significant, but less marked, regional differences (phi ST = 0.033; P < 0.013; n = 400 chromosomes). An hierarchical analysis of variance in frequencies of haplotypes and alleles supported the grouping of six regions into a central and eastern stock with further partitioning of variance among regions within stocks for haplotypes but not for alleles. Based on available genetic and demographic evidence, the southeastern Alaska and central California feeding grounds were selected for additional analyses of nuclear differentiation using allelic variation at four microsatellite loci. All four loci showed significant differences in allele frequencies (overall FST = 0.043; P < 0.001; average n = 139 chromosomes per locus), indicating at least partial reproductive isolation between the two regions as well as the segregation of mtDNA lineages. Although the two feeding grounds were not panmictic for nuclear or mitochondrial loci, estimates of long-term migration rates suggested that male-mediated gene flow was several-fold greater than female gene flow. These results include and extend the range and sample size of previously published work, providing additional evidence for the significance of genetic management units within oceanic populations of humpback whales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C S Baker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Baker CS, Perry A, Bannister JL, Weinrich MT, Abernethy RB, Calambokidis J, Lien J, Lambertsen RH, Ramírez JU, Vasquez O. Abundant mitochondrial DNA variation and world-wide population structure in humpback whales. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1993; 90:8239-43. [PMID: 8367488 PMCID: PMC47324 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.90.17.8239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 206] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Hunting during the last 200 years reduced many populations of mysticete whales to near extinction. To evaluate potential genetic bottlenecks in these exploited populations, we examined mitochondrial DNA control region sequences from 90 individual humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) representing six subpopulations in three ocean basins. Comparisons of relative nucleotide and nucleotype diversity reveal an abundance of genetic variation in all but one of the oceanic subpopulations. Phylogenetic reconstruction of nucleotypes and analysis of maternal gene flow show that current genetic variation is not due to postexploitation migration between oceans but is a relic of past population variability. Calibration of the rate of control region evolution across three families of whales suggests that existing humpback whale lineages are of ancient origin. Preservation of preexploitation variation in humpback whales may be attributed to their long life-span and overlapping generations and to an effective, though perhaps not timely, international prohibition against hunting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C S Baker
- Department of Zoology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu 96822
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Baker CS, Gilbert DA, Weinrich MT, Lambertsen R, Calambokidis J, McArdle B, Chambers GK, O'Brien SJ. Population characteristics of DNA fingerprints in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). J Hered 1993; 84:281-90. [PMID: 8340617 DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a111340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Humpback whales exhibit a remarkable social organization that is characterized by seasonal long-distance migration (> 10,000 km/year) between summer feeding grounds in high latitudes and winter calving and breeding grounds in tropical or near-tropical waters. All populations are currently considered endangered as a result of intensive commercial exploitation during the last 200 years. Using three hypervariable minisatellite DNA probes (33.15, 3'HVR, and M13) originally developed for studies of human genetic variation, we examined genetic variation within and among three regional subpopulations of humpback whales from the North Pacific and one from the North Atlantic oceans. Analysis of DNA extracted from skin tissues collected by biopsy darting from free-ranging whales revealed considerable variation in each subpopulation. The extent of this variation argues against a recent history of inbreeding among humpback whales as a result of nineteenth- and twentieth-century hunting. A canonical variate analysis suggested a relationship between scaled genetic distance, based on similarities of DNA fingerprints, and geographic distance (i.e., longitude of regional subpopulation). Significant categorical differences were found between the two oceanic populations using a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) with a modification of the Mantel nonparametric permutation test. The relationship between DNA fingerprint similarities and geographic distance suggests that nuclear gene flow between regional subpopulations within the North Pacific is restricted by relatively low rates of migratory interchange between breeding grounds or assortative mating on common wintering grounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C S Baker
- Laboratory of Viral Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21701-1013
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Baker CS, Palumbi SR, Lambertsen RH, Weinrich MT, Calambokidis J, O'Brien SJ. Influence of seasonal migration on geographic distribution of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes in humpback whales. Nature 1990; 344:238-40. [PMID: 1969116 DOI: 10.1038/344238a0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) migrate nearly 10,000 km each year between summer feeding grounds in temperate or near-polar waters and winter breeding grounds in shallow tropical waters. Observations of marked individuals suggest that major oceanic populations of humpback whales are divided into a number of distinct seasonal subpopulations which are not separated by obvious geographic barriers. To test whether these observed patterns of distribution and migration are reflected in the genetic structure of populations, we looked for variation in the mitochondrial DNA of 84 individual humpback whales on different feeding and wintering grounds of the North Pacific and western North Atlantic oceans. On the basis of restriction-fragment analysis, we now report a marked segregation of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes among subpopulations as well as between the two oceans. We interpret this segregation to be the consequence of maternally directed fidelity to migratory destinations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C S Baker
- Laboratory of Viral Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21701-1013
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Steiger GH, Calambokidis J, Cubbage JC, Skilling DE, Smith AW, Gribble DH. Mortality of harbor seal pups at different sites in the inland waters of Washington. J Wildl Dis 1989; 25:319-28. [PMID: 2761005 DOI: 10.7589/0090-3558-25.3.319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
We examined the mortality rates and causes of death of harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) pups in three regions of the inland waters of Washington (USA) in 1984. One hundred eight pups were collected during 239 searches of the shoreline areas near harbor seal haulout sites or through public reports. Minimum neonatal (up to 1 mo after birth) mortality rates at these regions ranged from 12% to 26% of the pups born. Neonatal mortality was highest in the Strait of Juan de Fuca; 33 of the estimated 105 (31%) pups born at the primary site died. Causes of death varied by location. In southern Puget Sound predation by coyotes (Canis latrans) was the primary cause of death, accounting for eight of 43 (19%) of the dead pups examined; starvation was the next most common cause of death. Mortality at study sites in the Strait of Juan de Fuca was related to premature parturition; 19 of 49 (39%) of the pups found dead were born prematurely. Nine species of bacteria were identified in samples taken from 42 pups; Proteus sp. and Escherichia coli were the most common.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G H Steiger
- Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, Washington 98501
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
|