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61 results for “fin whale”
Food talk: 40-Hz fin whale calls are associated with prey biomass
<p>Animals use varied acoustic signals that play critical roles in their lives. Understanding the function of these signals may inform about key life-history processes relevant for conservation. In the case of fin whales (<em>Balaenoptera physalus</em>), that produce different call types associated with different behaviours, several hypotheses have emerged regarding call function, but the topic still remains in its infancy. Here, we investigate the potential function of two fin whale vocalizations, the song-forming 20-Hz call and the 40-Hz call, by examining their production in relation to season, year and prey biomass. Our results showed that the production of 20-Hz calls was strongly influenced by season, with a clear peak during the breeding months, and secondarily by year, likely due to changes in whale abundance. These results support the reproductive function of the 20-Hz song used as an acoustic display. Conversely, season and year had no effect on variation in 40-Hz calling rates, but prey biomass did. This is the first study linking 40-Hz call activity to prey biomass, supporting the previously suggested food-associated function of this call. Understanding the functions of animal signals can help identifying functional habitats and predict the negative effects of human activities with important implications for conservation.</p>
Data for: Movements and residency of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in the California Current System
<p>This dataset represents the sighting histories of 932 individual fin whales (<em>Balaentoptera physalus</em>) photographed along the west coast of the continental United States and northern Mexico, 1987–2018. Because the fin whale is an endangered species, the sighting locations have been generalized. The full resolution sighting location data files and the R code used to conduct the analyses for the associated manuscript may be requested from the authors.</p>
Recorded taps on fin whale tympanoperiotic complex to study resonance related to low-frequency hearing
<p>We studied vibrations of the tympanoperiotic complex (TPC) bones of a fin whale skull. Vibrations were excited by tapping the bones at designated locations and measuring the sounds emitted by the left and right TPC bones using eight microphones arranged around the tympanic bulla. This dataset includes the wav files recorded from all 8 microphones as well as some descriptive photos and data. Power spectra from the microphone recordings revealed that the first twelve modes of vibration had resonance frequencies between 100Hz and 6kHz. Many vibrational modes focused energy at the sigmoidal process, and therefore the ossicular chain. The resonance frequencies of the left and right TPC were offset, suggesting a mechanism for the animals to have improved hearing at a range of frequencies as well as a mechanism for directionality in their perception of sounds. </p>
Food talk: 40-Hz fin whale calls are associated with prey biomass
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Recorded taps on fin whale tympanoperiotic complex to study resonance related to low-frequency hearing
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Fin whale tracks Elephant Island
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Targeting fin whale conservation in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea: Insights on movements and behaviour from biologging and habitat modelling
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Data for: Movements and residency of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in the California Current System
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Phylogenomics and pervasive genome-wide phylogenetic discordance among fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus)
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Short-finned pilot whales exhibit behavioral plasticity in foraging strategies mediated by their environment
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Data from: Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) mitogenomics: a cautionary tale of defining sub-species from mitochondrial sequence monophyly
The advent of massive parallel sequencing technologies has resulted in an increase of studies based upon complete mitochondrial genome DNA sequences that revisit the taxonomic status within and among species. Spatially distinct monophyly in such mitogenomic genealogies, i.e., the sharing of a recent common ancestor among con-specific samples collected in the same region has been viewed as evidence for subspecies. Several recent studies in cetaceans have employed this criterion to suggest subsequent intraspecific taxonomic revisions. We reason that employing intra-specific, spatially distinct monophyly at non-recombining, clonally inherited genomes is an unsatisfactory criterion for defining subspecies based upon theoretical (genetic drift) and practical (sampling effort) arguments. This point was illustrated by a re-analysis of a global mitogenomic assessment of fin whales, Balaenoptera physalus spp., published by Archer et al. (2013), which proposed to further subdivide the Northern Hemisphere fin whale subspecies, B. p. physalus. The proposed revision was based upon the detection of spatially distinct monophyly among North Atlantic and North Pacific fin whales in a genealogy based upon complete mitochondrial genome DNA sequences. The extended analysis conducted in this study (1,676 mitochondrial control region, 162 complete mitochondrial genome DNA sequences and 20 microsatellite loci genotyped in 358 samples) revealed that the apparent monophyly among North Atlantic fin whales reported by Archer et al. (2013) to be due to low sample sizes. In conclusion, defining sub-species from monophyly (i.e., the absence of para- or polyphyly) can lead to erroneous conclusions due to relatively "trivial" aspects, such as sampling. Basic population genetic processes (i.e., genetic drift and migration) also affect the time to the most recent common ancestor and hence the probability that individuals in a sample are monophyletic.
Data from: Familial social structure and socially-driven genetic differentiation in Hawaiian short-finned pilot whales
Social structure can have a significant impact on divergence and evolution within species, especially in the marine environment, which has few environmental boundaries to dispersal. On the other hand, genetic structure can affect social structure in many species, through an individual preference toward associating with relatives. One social species, the short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), has been shown to live in stable social groups for periods of at least a decade. Using mitochondrial control sequences from 242 individuals and SNPs from 106 individuals, we examine population structure among geographic and social groups of short-finned pilot whales in the Hawaiian Islands, and test for links between social and genetic structure. Our results show that there are at least two geographic populations in the Hawaiian Islands: a Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) population and a Northwestern Hawaiian Islands/Pelagic population (FST and ΦST P < 0.001), as well as an eastern MHI community and a western MHI community (FST P = 0.009). We find genetically-driven social structure, or high relatedness among social units and clusters (P < 0.001), and a positive relationship between relatedness and association between individuals (P < 0.0001). Further, socially-organized clusters are genetically distinct, indicating that social structure drives genetic divergence within the population, likely through restricted mate selection (FST P = 0.05). This genetic divergence among social groups can make the species less resilient to anthropogenic or ecological disturbance. Conservation of this species therefore depends on understanding links among social structure, genetic structure, and ecological variability within the species.
Data from: Decline in abundance and apparent survival rates of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence
Estimates of abundance and survivorship provide quantifiable measures to monitor populations and to define and understand their conservation status. This study investigated changes in abundance and survival rates of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence (GSL) in the context of anthropogenic pressures and changing environmental conditions. A long-term data set, consisting of 35 years of photo-identification surveys and comprising more than 5,000 identifications of 507 individuals, formed the basis of this mark-recapture study. Based on model selection using corrected Akaike Information Criterion, the most parsimonious Cormack-Jolly-Seber model included a linear temporal trend in non-calf apparent survival rates with a sharp decline in the last five years of the study and a median survival rate of 0.946 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.910-0.967). To account for capture heterogeneity due to divergent patterns of site fidelity, agglomerative hierarchical cluster (AHC) analysis was employed to categorise individuals based on their annual and survey site fidelity indices. However, the negative trend in survivorship remained and was corroborated by a significant decline in the estimated super-population size from 335 (95% CI 321-348) individuals in 2004-2010 to 291 (95% CI 270-312) individuals in 2010-2016. Concurrently, a negative trend was estimated in recruitment to the population, supported by a sharp decrease in the number of observed calves. Ship strikes and changes in prey availability are potential drivers of the observed decline in fin whale abundance. The combination of clustering methods with mark-recapture represents a flexible way to investigate the effects of site fidelity on demographic variables and is broadly applicable to other individual-based studies.
Data from: Long-term isolation at a low effective population size greatly reduced genetic diversity in Gulf of California fin whales
The Gulf of California, Mexico is home to many cetacean species, including a presumed resident population of fin whales, Balaenoptera physalus. Past studies reported very low levels of genetic diversity among Gulf of California fin whales and a significant level of genetic differentiation from con-specifics in the eastern North Pacific. The aim of the present study was to assess the degree and timing of the isolation of Gulf of California fin whales in a population genetic analysis of 18 nuclear microsatellite genotypes from 402 samples and 565 mitochondrial control region DNA sequences (including mitochondrial sequences retrieved from NCBI). The analyses revealed that the Gulf of California fin whale population was founded ~2.3 thousand years ago and has since remained at a low effective population size (~360) and isolated from the eastern North Pacific (Nem between 0.89–1.4). The low effective population size and high degree of isolation implied that Gulf of California fin whales are vulnerable to the negative effects of genetic drift, human-caused mortality and habitat change.
Data from: Why don't long-finned pilot whales have post-reproductive lifespan? insights from genetic data
<p> In a handful of mammals, females show an extended post-reproductive lifespan (PRLS), leading to questions over why they spend a substantial portion of their lifespan non-reproductive. Theoretical and empirical studies suggest that PRLS may evolve when (1) demographic patterns lead to increasing local relatedness as females age, and (2) females come into reproductive competition with their daughters, as these conditions lead to high relative benefits of helping kin versus reproducing in later life. However, evolutionary pathways to PRLS are poorly understood and empirical studies are scarce. Here, we use a dataset of 1522 individuals comprising 22 pods to investigate patterns of reproduction and relatedness in long-finned pilot whales Globicephala melas; a toothed whale without species-wide PRLS. We find a similar relatedness structure to whales with PRLS: pods appear composed of related matrilines, and relatedness of females to their pod increases with age, suggesting that this species could benefit from late-life help. However, females with a large number of philopatric adult daughters (but not sons) are less likely to reproduce, implying intergenerational reproductive competition between females. This suggests that individuals may display a plastic cessation of reproduction, switching to investing in existing offspring when they come into competition with their daughters. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time such a relationship has been described in relation to PRLS, and it raises questions about whether this represents a step towards evolving PRLS or is a stable alternative strategy to widespread post-reproductive periods.</p>
Figure S4.4. Dynamic weekly suitability map for short-finned pilot whales around central group islands (Pico, Faial, São Jorge and Terceira), Azores.
<p>Dynamic weekly suitability map for short-finned pilot whales around central group islands (Pico, Faial, São Jorge and Terceira), Azores.</p>
Figure S4.18. Dynamic weekly suitability map for fin whales around central group islands (Pico, Faial, São Jorge and Terceira), Azores.
<p>Dynamic weekly suitability map for fin whales around central group islands (Pico, Faial, São Jorge and Terceira), Azores.</p>
On following pages: 6. Omura's Whale (Balaenoptera omurai); 7. Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus); 8. Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). in Balaenopteridae
On following pages: 6. Omura's Whale (Balaenoptera omurai); 7. Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus); 8. Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
On following pages: 25. Long-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala melas); 26. Short-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus); 27. Pygmy Killer Whale (Feresa attenuata); 28. Risso's Dolphin (Grampus griseus); 29. Melon- in Delphinidae
On following pages: 25. Long-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala melas); 26. Short-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus); 27. Pygmy Killer Whale (Feresa attenuata); 28. Risso's Dolphin (Grampus griseus); 29. Melon-
On following pages: 25. Long-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala melas); 26. Short-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus); 27. Pygmy Killer Whale (Feresa attenuata); 28. Risso's Dolphin (Grampus griseus); 29. Melonheaded Whale (Peponocephala electra); 30. False Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens). in Delphinidae
On following pages: 25. Long-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala melas); 26. Short-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus); 27. Pygmy Killer Whale (Feresa attenuata); 28. Risso's Dolphin (Grampus griseus); 29. Melonheaded Whale (Peponocephala electra); 30. False Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens).
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Allen Brain Atlas
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International Brain Laboratory public data
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OpenNeuro
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