DOCSLIB.ORG

ICR TECHNICAL REPORTS of the INSTITUTE of CETACEAN RESEARCH December 2020

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
ICR TECHNICAL REPORTS of the INSTITUTE of CETACEAN RESEARCH December 2020 TECHNICAL REPORTS OF THE ICR INSTITUTE OF CETACEAN RESEARCH No. 4 December 2020 TEREP-ICR is published annually by the InsƟtute of Cetacean Research. ISSN: 2433-6084 Copyright © 2020, The InsƟtute of Cetacean Research (ICR). CitaƟon EnƟre issue: InsƟtute of Cetacean Research. 2020. Technical Reports of the InsƟtute of Cetacean Research (TEREP -ICR) No. 4. The InsƟtute of Cetacean Research, Tokyo, Japan, 79 pp. Individual reports: ‘Author Name’. 2020. ‘Report Ɵtle’. Technical Reports of the InsƟtute of Cetacean Research (TEREP- ICR) No. 4: ‘pp’-’pp’. Editorial correspondence should be sent to: Editor, TEREP-ICR The InsƟtute of Cetacean Research, 4-5 Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0055, Japan Phone: +81(3) 3536 6521 Fax: +81(3) 3536 6522 E-mail: [email protected] TEREP-ICR is available online at www.icrwhale.org/TEREP-ICR.html Cover photo: Stereoscopic microscope used for age determinaƟon based on counƟng of earplug growth laminae (top); capillary sequencer ABI SeqStudio used for DNA sequencing analysis (middle); ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer used for age determinaƟon based on racemizaƟon analysis (boƩom). Copyright © 2020, The InsƟtute of Cetacean Research (ICR). TECHNICAL REPORTS OF THE INSTITUTE OF CETACEAN RESEARCH TEREP-ICR No. 4 The Ins�tute of Cetacean Research (ICR) Tokyo, 2020 Technical Reports of the Ins�tute of Cetacean Research (2020) pp. i Foreword It is a pleasure for me to introduce the fourth issue of the Technical Reports of the Ins�tute of Cetacean Research (TEREP- ICR-4). Following the change in Japan’s whaling policy last year, the ICR has been designing and implemen�ng whale research programs based on non-lethal methods. In the North Pacific, ICR scien�sts have contributed to the design and implementa�on of na�onal dedicated sigh�ng surveys and of the IWC-sponsored Pacific Ocean Whale and Ecosystem Research (POWER) surveys. In the Antarc�c, ICR scien�sts designed the new program called ‘Japanese Abundance and Stock structure Surveys in the Antarc�c’ (JASS-A), and the first survey under this program was completed successfully during the 2019/20 austral summer season. In addi�on, ICR scien�sts commenced the collec�on of biological samples and data based on whales caught for commercial purposes in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone since 1 July 2019. Consistent with its stated objec�ves, TEREP-ICR describes and reports on the process, progress, and results of techni- cal or scien�fic research, or the state of technical or scien�fic research programs conducted by the ICR, including those commenced recently. ICR scien�sts were preparing for their par�cipa�on in several na�onal and interna�onal mee�ngs planned for 2020. Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic affec�ng the world, these mee�ngs were either cancelled or replaced by virtual mee�ngs (or e-mail discussions), and our scien�sts par�cipated in those virtual mee�ngs and discussions as much as possible, given the circumstances. Similar to previous TEREP-ICR issues, TEREP-ICR-3 was widely distributed to approximately 120 individual scien�sts from Japan and 30 foreign countries. It was also distributed to approximately 190 research ins�tu�ons (including uni- versi�es, research ins�tutes, public libraries, museums and aquariums), both in Japan and foreign countries. As a result of dissemina�ng informa�on on ICR’s research ac�vi�es through the TEREP-ICR, an increasing number of interna�onal scien�sts are showing interest in conduc�ng research in collabora�on with the ICR. Based on this, I believe that TEREP- ICR is making contribu�on toward achieving its stated objec�ves. Furthermore, TEREP has been a good opportunity for our scien�sts to compile and summarize their research, conducted over the years, as a prior step before submi�ng their works for peer-review publica�ons. Finally, I am pleased to announce that the reports published in TEREP are now indexed in the Japan Science and Tech- nology Agency’s J-GLOBAL, which aims to link, expand and spark scien�fic informa�on in Japan and the world. I sincerely hope that this fourth issue of the TEREP-ICR will con�nue to contribute to an increased understanding of the technical and research ac�vi�es conducted by the ICR among the na�onal and interna�onal scien�fic communi�es. Dr. Yoshihiro Fujise Director General ICR Tokyo, December 2020 i Technical Reports of the Ins�tute of Cetacean Research (2020) pp. iii Editorial Welcome to the fourth issue of the Technical Reports of the Ins�tute of Cetacean Research (TEREP-ICR-4). This issue contains eight technical reports and one commentary ar�cle. We con�nue with the series of reports sum- marizing the research findings on whales and the ecosystem in the Indo-Pacific sector of the Antarc�c. This �me, Tamura and colleagues focus on the findings of the ecological research on whales and their environment. Outlines of two impor- tant whale research programs, including results of the latest surveys, are included in this issue. Isoda and colleagues ex- plain the program ‘Japanese Abundance and Stock structure Surveys in the Antarc�c (JASS-A)’, while Matsuoka explains the IWC-sponsored program ‘Pacific Ocean Whale and Ecosystem Research (IWC-POWER)’. The basic concept of gene�c tagging, and its applica�on for abundance es�mates in whales, are explained in the reports by Taguchi and Takahashi, respec�vely. Works on earplug-based age determina�on and the es�ma�on of biological parameters have con�nued, based on the samples and data collected during the former whale research programs under special scien�fic permit. This �me, Bando and Maeda show the results of age determina�on and biological parameter es�mates of North Pacific sei whales. The first Note by Goto and Oikawa describes Japan’s system for monitoring of whale products sold in its domes- �c market through DNA registra�on, and the second Note by Konishi and colleagues focuses on the preliminary results of satellite-monitored tracking of Antarc�c minke and fin whales during the first JASS-A survey. In the commentary ar�cle, Yasunaga presents his views on the use of lethal and nonlethal techniques for the research of large whales. This fourth TEREP-ICR issue also includes sec�ons to outline the contribu�on of ICR scien�sts to interna�onal meet- ings in 2020, as well as their contribu�on in terms of peer-reviewed publica�ons up to December 2020. I hope you will find this fourth issue informa�ve and useful. Dr. Luis A. Pastene Editor TEREP-ICR Tokyo, December 2020 iii Technical Reports of the Ins�tute of Cetacean Research (2020) p. v Contents Foreword i Editorial iii Contents v Technical Reports Tamura, T., Matsuoka, K., Yasunaga, G. and Pastene, L.A. What do we know about whales and ecosys- tem in the Indo-Pacific region of the Antarc�c? Part 2: summary of ecological studies 1 Isoda, T., Katsumata, T., Tamura, T., Matsuoka, K. and Pastene, L.A. An outline of the Japanese Abun- dance and Stock structure Surveys in the Antarc�c (JASS-A) including results of the first survey under this new research program 12 Matsuoka, K. An outline of the IWC-Pacific Ocean Whale and Ecosystem Research (IWC-POWER) including results of the 2019 survey 23 Taguchi, M. Gene�c tagging technique: basic concept and a case study by the Ins�tute of Cetacean Research 35 Takahashi, M. Use of gene�c data for abundance es�mate purposes: a brief review of methods and case studies by the Ins�tute of Cetacean Research 41 Bando, T. and Maeda, H. Progress in the research on earplug-based age determina�on and biological parameters of North Pacific sei whales at the Ins�tute of Cetacean Research 48 Technical Reports-Notes Goto, M. and Oikawa, H. Japan’s system for monitoring of whale products sold in its domes�c market through DNA registra�on 54 Konishi, K., Isoda, T. and Katsumata, T. Satellite-monitored tracking of Antarc�c minke and fin whales under the first JASS-A survey in the 2019/2020 austral summer season 57 Commentary Yasunaga, G. Comments on the use of lethal and non-lethal techniques in the studies of large whales 59 Interna�onal mee�ngs 61 Peer-reviewed publica�ons 62 v Technical Reports of the Ins�tute of Cetacean Research (2020) pp. 1–11 Technical Report (not peer reviewed) What do we know about whales and ecosystem in the Indo-Pacific region of the Antarc�c? Part 2: summary of ecological studies Tsutomu Tamura*, Koji Matsuoka, Genta Yasunaga and Luis A. Pastene Institute of Cetacean Research, –4 5 Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104–0055, Japan *Contact e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT The Ins�tute of Cetacean Research conducted whale research under special scien�fic permit in the Antarc�c star�ng from the austral summer season 1987/88. The research was conducted systema�cally under different research programs such as JARPA and JARPAII, and more recently, under NEWREP-A. These research programs employed both lethal and non-lethal methods. NEWREP-A ceased a�er the 2018/19 austral summer season as a consequence of Japan’s decision to withdraw from the Interna�onal Conven�on for the Regula�on of Whal- ing. Japan’s whale research con�nues in the Antarc�c, using non-lethal methods only. This paper summarizes the most relevant ecological outputs from Japan’s whale research under special scien�fic permit in the Indo- Pacific region of the Antarc�c. the most relevant ecological outputs from Japan’s whale INTRODUCTION research under special scien�fic permit in the Indo-Pacific Japan conducted systema�c research on whales and the region of the Antarc�c.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • List of Marine Mammal Species and Subspecies Written by The
    List of Marine Mammal Species and Subspecies Written by the Committee on Taxonomy The Ad-Hoc Committee on Taxonomy , chaired by Bill Perrin, has produced the first official SMM list of marine mammal species and subspecies. Consensus on some issues was not possible; this is reflected in the footnotes. This list will be revisited and possibly revised every few months reflecting the continuing flux in marine mammal taxonomy. This list can be cited as follows: “Committee on Taxonomy. 2009. List of marine mammal species and subspecies. Society for Marine Mammalogy, www.marinemammalscience.org, consulted on [date].” This list includes living and recently extinct species and subspecies. It is meant to reflect prevailing usage and recent revisions published in the peer-reviewed literature. Author(s) and year of description of the species follow the Latin species name; when these are enclosed in parentheses, the species was originally described in a different genus. Classification and scientific names follow Rice (1998), with adjustments reflecting more recent literature. Common names are arbitrary and change with time and place; one or two currently frequently used in English and/or a range language are given here. Additional English common names and common names in French, Spanish, Russian and other languages are available at www.marinespecies.org/cetacea/ . The cetaceans genetically and morphologically fall firmly within the artiodactyl clade (Geisler and Uhen, 2005), and therefore we include them in the order Cetartiodactyla, with Cetacea, Mysticeti and Odontoceti as unranked taxa (recognizing that the classification within Cetartiodactyla remains partially unresolved -- e.g., see Spaulding et al ., 2009) 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Balaenoptera Bonaerensis – Antarctic Minke Whale
    Balaenoptera bonaerensis – Antarctic Minke Whale compared to B. bonaerensis. This smaller form, termed the “Dwarf” Minke Whale, may be genetically different from B. bonaerensis, and more closely related to the North Pacific Minke Whales, and thus has been classified B. acutorostrata (Wada et al. 1991; IWC 2001). This taxonomic position, although somewhat controversial, has been accepted by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). Assessment Rationale The current IWC global estimate of abundance of Antarctic Dr. Meike Scheidat Minke Whales is about 500,000 individuals. The abundance estimates declined from about 700,000 for the second circumpolar set of abundance survey cruises Regional Red List status (2016) Least Concern* (1985/86 to 1990/91) to about 500,000 for the third National Red List status (2004) Least Concern (1991/92 to 2003/04). Although this decline was not statistically significant, the IWC Scientific Committee does Reasons for change No change consider these results to reflect a change. However, Global Red List status (2008) Data Deficient whether this change is genuine or attributed to greater proportions of pack ice limiting the survey extent, has not TOPS listing (NEMBA) (2007) None yet been determined. More detailed results from an CITES listing (1986) Appendix I assessment model are available for the mid-Indian to the mid-Pacific region, and suggest that the population Endemic No increased to a peak in 1970 and then declined, with it *Watch-list Data being unclear whether this decline has levelled off or is still continuing past 2000.
    [Show full text]
  • Description of a New Species of Beaked Whale (Berardius) Found in the North Pacific
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Description of a new species of beaked whale (Berardius) found in the North Pacifc Received: 30 November 2018 Tadasu K. Yamada1, Shino Kitamura2,3, Syuiti Abe3, Yuko Tajima1, Ayaka Matsuda3, Accepted: 4 July 2019 James G. Mead4 & Takashi F. Matsuishi3,5 Published: xx xx xxxx Two types of Berardius are recognised by local whalers in Hokkaido, Japan. The frst is the ordinary Baird’s beaked whale, B. bairdii, whereas the other is much smaller and entirely black. Previous molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that the black type is one recognisable taxonomic unit within the Berardius clade but is distinct from the two known Berardius species. To determine the characteristics of the black type, we summarised external morphology and skull osteometric data obtained from four individuals, which included three individuals from Hokkaido and one additional individual from the United States National Museum of Natural History collection. The whales difered from all of their congeners by having the following unique characters: a substantially smaller body size of physically mature individuals, proportionately shorter beak, and darker body colour. Thus, we conclude that the whales are a third Berardius species. Beaked whales (Family Ziphiidae, Odontoceti, Cetacea) include the second largest number of species among toothed whale families. Teir preference for deep ocean waters, elusive habits, and long dive capacity1 make beaked whales hard to see and inadequately understood. A total of 22 species are currently recognized in six genera (Berardius, Hyperoodon, Indopacetus, Mesoplodon, Tasmacetus, and Ziphius)2. Te genus Berardius has two species, Baird’s beaked whale Berardius bairdii, found in the North Pacifc and adjacent waters, and Arnoux’s beaked whale B.
    [Show full text]
  • Genetic Structure of the Beaked Whale Genus Berardius in the North Pacific
    MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE, 33(1): 96–111 (January 2017) Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA DOI: 10.1111/mms.12345 Genetic structure of the beaked whale genus Berardius in the North Pacific, with genetic evidence for a new species PHILLIP A. MORIN1, Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Cen- ter, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, California 92037, U.S.A. and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92037, U.S.A.; C. SCOTT BAKER Marine Mammal Institute and Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, Oregon 07365, U.S.A.; REID S. BREWER Fisheries Technology, University of Alaska South- east, 1332 Seward Avenue, Sitka, Alaska 99835, U.S.A.; ALEXANDER M. BURDIN Kam- chatka Branch of the Pacific Geographical Institute, Partizanskaya Str. 6, Petropavlovsk- Kamchatsky, 683000 Russia; MEREL L. DALEBOUT School of Biological, Earth, and Environ- mental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia; JAMES P. DINES Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90007, U.S.A.; IVAN D. FEDUTIN AND OLGA A. FILATOVA Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow 119992, Russia; ERICH HOYT Whale and Dol- phin Conservation, Park House, Allington Park, Bridport, Dorset DT6 5DD, United King- dom; JEAN-LUC JUNG Laboratoire BioGEMME, Universite de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France; MORGANE LAUF Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, California 92037, U.S.A.; CHARLES W.
    [Show full text]
  • Order CETACEA Suborder MYSTICETI BALAENIDAE Eubalaena Glacialis (Müller, 1776) EUG En - Northern Right Whale; Fr - Baleine De Biscaye; Sp - Ballena Franca
    click for previous page Cetacea 2041 Order CETACEA Suborder MYSTICETI BALAENIDAE Eubalaena glacialis (Müller, 1776) EUG En - Northern right whale; Fr - Baleine de Biscaye; Sp - Ballena franca. Adults common to 17 m, maximum to 18 m long.Body rotund with head to 1/3 of total length;no pleats in throat; dorsal fin absent. Mostly black or dark brown, may have white splotches on chin and belly.Commonly travel in groups of less than 12 in shallow water regions. IUCN Status: Endangered. BALAENOPTERIDAE Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacepède, 1804 MIW En - Minke whale; Fr - Petit rorqual; Sp - Rorcual enano. Adult males maximum to slightly over 9 m long, females to 10.7 m.Head extremely pointed with prominent me- dian ridge. Body dark grey to black dorsally and white ventrally with streaks and lobes of intermediate shades along sides.Commonly travel singly or in groups of 2 or 3 in coastal and shore areas;may be found in groups of several hundred on feeding grounds. IUCN Status: Lower risk, near threatened. Balaenoptera borealis Lesson, 1828 SIW En - Sei whale; Fr - Rorqual de Rudolphi; Sp - Rorcual del norte. Adults to 18 m long. Typical rorqual body shape; dorsal fin tall and strongly curved, rises at a steep angle from back.Colour of body is mostly dark grey or blue-grey with a whitish area on belly and ventral pleats.Commonly travel in groups of 2 to 5 in open ocean waters. IUCN Status: Endangered. 2042 Marine Mammals Balaenoptera edeni Anderson, 1878 BRW En - Bryde’s whale; Fr - Rorqual de Bryde; Sp - Rorcual tropical.
    [Show full text]
  • National Progress Reports Japan – 2020 & 2019
    NAMMCO/28/NPR/JP-2020-2019 NAMMCO ANNUAL MEETING 28 22-25 March 2021 Online MEETING OF THE COUNCIL DOCUMENT NPR/ NATIONAL PROGRESS REPORTS JAPAN – 2020 & 2019 JP-2020-2019 Submitted by Japan Action requested For information Japan ProgRep. Large Cetacean/2020 Japan. Progress report on large cetacean research, April 2019 to March 2020 COMPILED BY SATOKO INOUE Institute of Cetacean Research, 4-5 Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0055, Japan This document summarizes the data and samples of large cetacean, which were collected by the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR), National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries (NRIFSF) and Fisheries Agency of Japan (FAJ) from April 2019 to March 2020 and austral summer season 2019/20. Sighting data for abundance estimates of large cetaceans were collected in the western North Pacific, the Gulf of Alaska and the Antarctic during systematic sighting surveys. During the surveys, photo-id, biopsy and satellite tracking experiments on large cetaceans were also conducted. A large number of biological data and samples were collected during the last surveys of the New Scientific Whale Research Program in the western North Pacific (NEWREP-NP) and commercial whaling in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Species and figures of bycatch and stranding of large cetaceans are based on the reports of prefecture governments to the FAJ, which compile reports from individual fishermen, fishery cooperative associations and the general public. Data and samples collected are being analyzed for contributing to the stock assessment and management of large cetaceans in the North Pacific. 1. SIGHTING DATA Dedicated sighting survey under the program Japanese Abundance and Stock structure Surveys in the Antarctic (JASS-A) in the Southern Ocean in the austral summer season 2019/20 (vessel: Yushin-Maru No.2).
    [Show full text]
  • Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles of the Mediterranean and Black Seas
    Marine mammals and sea turtles of the Mediterranean and Black Seas MEDITERRANEAN AND BLACK SEA BASINS Main seas, straits and gulfs in the Mediterranean and Black Sea basins, together with locations mentioned in the text for the distribution of marine mammals and sea turtles Ukraine Russia SEA OF AZOV Kerch Strait Crimea Romania Georgia Slovenia France Croatia BLACK SEA Bosnia & Herzegovina Bulgaria Monaco Bosphorus LIGURIAN SEA Montenegro Strait Pelagos Sanctuary Gulf of Italy Lion ADRIATIC SEA Albania Corsica Drini Bay Spain Dardanelles Strait Greece BALEARIC SEA Turkey Sardinia Algerian- TYRRHENIAN SEA AEGEAN SEA Balearic Islands Provençal IONIAN SEA Syria Basin Strait of Sicily Cyprus Strait of Sicily Gibraltar ALBORAN SEA Hellenic Trench Lebanon Tunisia Malta LEVANTINE SEA Israel Algeria West Morocco Bank Tunisian Plateau/Gulf of SirteMEDITERRANEAN SEA Gaza Strip Jordan Suez Canal Egypt Gulf of Sirte Libya RED SEA Marine mammals and sea turtles of the Mediterranean and Black Seas Compiled by María del Mar Otero and Michela Conigliaro The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN. Published by Compiled by María del Mar Otero IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, Spain © IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, and Malaga, Spain Michela Conigliaro IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, Spain Copyright © 2012 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources With the support of Catherine Numa IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, Spain Annabelle Cuttelod IUCN Species Programme, United Kingdom Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the sources are fully acknowledged.
    [Show full text]
  • FC Inshore Cetacean Species Identification
    Falklands Conservation PO BOX 26, Falkland Islands, FIQQ 1ZZ +500 22247 [email protected] www.falklandsconservation.com FC Inshore Cetacean Species Identification Introduction This guide outlines the key features that can be used to distinguish between the six most common cetacean species that inhabit Falklands' waters. A number of additional cetacean species may occasionally be seen in coastal waters, for example the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), the long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) and the dusky dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus). A full list of the species that have been documented to date around the Falklands can be found in Appendix 1. Note that many of these are typical of deeper, oceanic waters, and are unlikely to be encountered along the coast. The six species (or seven species, including two species of minke whale) described in this document are observed regularly in shallow, nearshore waters, and are the focus of this identification guide. Questions and further information For any questions about species identification then please contact the Cetaceans Project Officer Caroline Weir who will be happy to help you try and identify your sighting: Tel: 22247 Email: [email protected] Useful identification guides If you wish to learn more about the identification features of various species, some comprehensive field guides (which include all cetacean species globally) include: Handbook of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises by Mark Carwardine. 2019. Marine Mammals of the World: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Identification by Thomas A. Jefferson, Marc A. Webber, and Robert L. Pitman. 2015. Whales, Dolphins and Seals: A Field Guide to the Marine Mammals of the World by Hadoram Shirihai and Brett Jarrett.
    [Show full text]
  • Chlorinated Organic Contaminants in Blubber Biopsies from Northwestern Atlantic Balaenopterid Whales Summering in the Gulf of St Lawrence
    Marine Environmental Research, Vol. 44, No. 2, pp. 201-223, 1997 0 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd All rights reserved. Printed in Great Britain PII: SOl41-1136(97)00004-4 0141-1136/97 $17.00+0.00 Chlorinated Organic Contaminants in Blubber Biopsies from Northwestern Atlantic Balaenopterid Whales Summering in the Gulf of St Lawrence J. M. Gauthier,a* C. D. Metcalfe” & R. Sear@ “Environmental and Resources Studies, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9J 7B8 bMingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS), 285 Green, St. Lambert, Quebec, Canada J4P IT3 (Received 16 May 1996; revised version received 16 December 1996; accepted 29 December 1996. Published June 1997) ABSTRACT Concentrations and patterns of chlorinated biphenyls (CBS) and other persistent organochlorine compounds (OCs) were determined from small blubber biopsy samples collected from northwestern Atlantic minke (Balaenoptera acuros- trata) , fin (Balaenoptera physalus), blue (Balaenoptera musculus) , and humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) whales summering in the Gurf of St. Lawrence, Quebec. Concentrations of CPCB (sum of 19 congeners) in biopsy samples ranged from 0.2-10 pg g-’ lipid, and congeners 52, 101, 118, 153, 138 and 180 accounted for 79% of CPCB. Mean concentration of the sum of non- ortho CB congeners in selected biopsy samples was 2 ng g-t lipid, and relative concentrations of these analytes were: 77 > 126 > 81> 169. Concentrations of XDDT ranged from 0.613 pg g-t lipid, and the average proportion of DDE to CDDT was 72%. All other organochlorine analytes were present at concentra- tions below 2 pg g-t lipid. On average, cis-nonachlor, trans-nonachlor and oxy- chlordane accounted for 27, 26 and 23%, respectively, of the chlordane-related analytes, and cl-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) comprised 67% of XHCH.
    [Show full text]
  • Lunge Filter Feeding Biomechanics Constrain Rorqual Foraging Ecology Across Scale S
    © 2020. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd | Journal of Experimental Biology (2020) 223, jeb224196. doi:10.1242/jeb.224196 RESEARCH ARTICLE Lunge filter feeding biomechanics constrain rorqual foraging ecology across scale S. R. Kahane-Rapport1,*, M. S. Savoca1, D. E. Cade1,2, P. S. Segre1, K. C. Bierlich3, J. Calambokidis4, J. Dale3, J. A. Fahlbusch1, A. S. Friedlaender2, D. W. Johnston3, A. J. Werth5 and J. A. Goldbogen1 ABSTRACT morphological scaling (Haldane, 1926), resulting in functional Fundamental scaling relationships influence the physiology of vital trade-offs that ultimately impact evolution and ecology. rates, which in turn shape the ecology and evolution of organisms. For The physiological advantages and disadvantages associated with diving mammals, benefits conferred by large body size include different body sizes have wide-ranging effects, from behavior to life reduced transport costs and enhanced breath-holding capacity, history. For example, the smallest animals have the lowest absolute thereby increasing overall foraging efficiency. Rorqual whales feed energetic demands (Kelt and Van Vuren, 1999), yet they may also by engulfing a large mass of prey-laden water at high speed and struggle with thermoregulation and be forced to compensate by filtering it through baleen plates. However, as engulfment capacity increasing their metabolism (Scholander et al., 1950; Taylor et al., increases with body length (engulfment volume∝body length3.57), the 1980). Small size enables high performance maneuverability and surface area of the baleen filter does not increase proportionally agility (Domenici, 2001), but may limit maximum attainable speeds (baleen area∝body length1.82), and thus the filtration time of larger (Carrier, 1994; Hirt et al., 2017).
    [Show full text]
  • A Brief Review of the Genetic Studies on Dwarf Minke Whale Based on Jarpa Samples
    SC/D06/J8 A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE GENETIC STUDIES ON DWARF MINKE WHALE BASED ON JARPA SAMPLES Luis A. Pastene Institute of Cetacean Research, Toyomi-cho 4-5, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0055, Japan ABSTRACT Prior to the JARPA surveys ‘dwarf’ minke whales were only believed to be found between 7-41°S. However the locality of the JARPA catches in Areas IV and V was mainly between 55-62°S (one animal was caught at 65°S), showing that the ‘dwarf’ minke whale is found much further south than shown by the previous data. A total of 16 ‘dwarf’ minke whales were sampled by JARPA and these animals were examined genetically with the purpose to investigate their relationship to the southern ‘ordinary’ minke whale and to minke whales in the Northern Hemisphere. Early studies showed that the degree of mtDNA divergence between both southern minke whales was large and similar to that found between southern ‘ordinary’ minke whale and Northern Hemisphere minke whales. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the ‘dwarf’ minke whale was more closely related to Northern Hemisphere minke whales. In 1993 the Scientific Committee recommended the inclusion of the ‘dwarf’ minke whale in the Schedule, so that catch limits for Antarctic minke whales recognise the distinction between the two southern minke whales. The genetic analysis conducted using JARPA samples of the southern ‘ordinary’ and ‘dwarf’ minke whales assisted greatly to the taxonomic review of minke whale conducted by Rice (1998), which confirmed the existence of two species, the larger, Antarctic minke whale Balaenoptera bonaerensis confined to the Southern Hemisphere, and the smaller, common minke whale B.
    [Show full text]
  • Mandible Allometry in Extant and Fossil Balaenopteridae (Cetacea: Mammalia): the Largest Vertebrate Skeletal Element and Its Role in Rorqual Lunge Feeding
    bs_bs_banner Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 108, 586–599. With 6 figures Mandible allometry in extant and fossil Balaenopteridae (Cetacea: Mammalia): the largest vertebrate skeletal element and its role in rorqual lunge feeding NICHOLAS D. PYENSON1,2*, JEREMY A. GOLDBOGEN3 and ROBERT E. SHADWICK4 1Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 37012, Washington, DC, 20013-7013, USA 2Departments of Mammalogy and Paleontology, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, WA 98195, USA 3Cascadia Research Collective, 218½ West 4th Avenue, Olympia, WA, USA 4Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4 Received 4 July 2012; revised 10 September 2012; accepted for publication 10 September 2012 Rorqual whales (crown Balaenopteridae) are unique among aquatic vertebrates in their ability to lunge feed. During a single lunge, rorquals rapidly engulf a large volume of prey-laden water at high speed, which they then filter to capture suspended prey. Engulfment biomechanics are mostly governed by the coordinated opening and closing of the mandibles at large gape angles, which differentially exposes the floor of the oral cavity to oncoming flow. The mouth area in rorquals is delimited by unfused bony mandibles that form kinetic linkages to each other and with the skull. The relative scale and morphology of these skeletal elements have profound consequences for the energetic efficiency of foraging in these gigantic predators. Here, we performed a morphometric study of rorqual mandibles using a data set derived from a survey of museum specimens. Across adult specimens of extant balaenopterids, mandibles range in size from ~1–6 m in length, and at their upper limit they represent the single largest osteological element of any vertebrate, living or extinct.
    [Show full text]