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80 results for “humpback whale”
The conspecific avoidance strategies of adult female-calf humpback whales
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Humpback whale song presence in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean
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Data from: Vessel noise levels drive behavioural responses of humpback whales with implications for whale-watching
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Humpback whale acoustic presence in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean
<p>In the Atlantic Sector of the Southern Ocean (<i>ASSO</i>), the investigation of baleen whale distribution by sighting surveys is temporally restricted to the austral summer. The implementation of autonomous passive acoustic monitoring, in turn, allows studying vocal baleen whales year-round. This study describes the results of analyzing passive acoustic data spanning 12 recording positions throughout the <i>ASSO</i> applying a combination of automatic and manual analysis methods to register humpback whale acoustic activity. Humpback whales were present at nine recording positions with higher acoustic activities towards lower latitudes and the eastern and western edges of the <i>ASSO</i>. During all months, except December, humpback whale acoustic activity was registered in the <i>ASSO</i>. </p>
Data from: The behavioural response of migrating humpback whales to a full seismic air gun array
Despite concerns on the effects of noise from seismic survey air guns on marine organisms, there remains uncertainty in the biological significance of any response. This study quantifies and interprets the response of migrating humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) to a 3130 cui (51.3l) commercial air gun array. We compare the behavioural responses to active trials (array operational; n = 34 whale groups), with responses to control trials (source vessel towing the array while silent; n = 33) and baseline studies of normal behaviour in the absence of the vessel (n = 85). No abnormal behaviours were recorded during the trials. However, in response to the active seismic array and the controls, the whales displayed changes in behaviour. Changes in respiration rate were of a similar magnitude to changes in baseline groups being joined by other animals suggesting any change group energetics was within their behavioural repertoire. However, the reduced progression southwards in response to the active treatments, for some cohorts, was below typical migratory speeds. This response was more likely to occur within 4 km from the array at received levels over 135 dB re 1µPa2.s.
Data from: Multiple processes drive genetic structure of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) populations across spatial scales
Elucidating patterns of population structure for species with complex life histories, and disentangling the processes driving such patterns, remains a significant analytical challenge. Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) populations display complex genetic structures that have not been fully resolved at all spatial scales. We generated a data set of nuclear markers for 3,575 samples spanning the seven breeding stocks and substocks found in the South Atlantic and western and northern Indian Oceans. For the total sample, and males and females separately, we assessed genetic diversity, tested for genetic differentiation between putative populations and isolation by distance, estimated the number of genetic clusters without a priori population information, and estimated rates of gene flow using maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches. At the ocean basin scale, structure is governed by geographic distance (IBD p<0.05) and female fidelity to breeding areas, in line with current understanding of the drivers of broad-scale population structure. Consistent with previous studies, the Arabian Sea breeding stock was highly genetically differentiated (FST 0.034-0.161; p<0.01 for all comparisons). However, the breeding stock boundary between west South Africa and east Africa was more porous than expected based on genetic differentiation, cluster, and gene flow analyses. Instances of male-fidelity to breeding areas and relatively high rates of dispersal for females were also observed between the three substocks in the western Indian Ocean. This mismatch between demographic units and current management boundaries may have ramifications for assessments of the status and continued protections of populations still in recovery from commercial whaling.
A deep dive into fat: Investigating blubber lipidomics fingerprint of killer whales and humpback whales in northern Norway
<p class="xl24">In cetaceans, blubber is the primary and largest lipid body reservoir. Our current understanding about lipid stores and uses in cetaceans is still limited and most studies only focused on a single narrow snapshot of the lipidome. We documented an extended lipidomics fingerprint in two cetacean species present in northern Norway during wintertime. We were able to detect 817 molecular lipid species in blubber of killer whales (<i>Orcinus orca</i>) and humpback whales (<i>Megaptera novaeangliae</i>). The profiles were largely dominated by triradylglycerols in both species and to a lesser extent, by other constituents including glycerophosphocholines, phosphosphingolipids, glycerophosphoethanolamines and diradylglycerols. Through a unique combination of traditional statistical approaches, together with a novel bioinformatics tool (LION/web), we showed contrasting fingerprints composition between species. The higher content of triradylglycerols in humpback whales is necessary to fuel their upcoming half a year fasting and energy-demanding migration between feeding and breeding grounds. In adipocytes, we assume that the intense feeding rate of humpback whales prior to migration translates into an important accumulation of triacylglycerols content in lipid droplets. Upstream, the endoplasmic reticulum is operating at full capacity to supply acute lipid storage, consistent with the reported enrichment of glycerophosphocholines in humpback whales, major components of the endoplasmic reticulum. There was also an enrichment of membrane components which translates into higher sphingolipids content in the lipidome of killer whales, potentially as a structural adaptation for their higher hydrodynamic performance. Finally, the presence of both lipid-enriched and lipid-depleted individuals within the killer whale population in Norway suggests dietary-specialization, consistent with significant differences of δ<sup>15</sup>N and δ<sup>13</sup>C isotopic ratios in skin between the two groups, with higher values and a wider niche for the lipid-enriched individuals. Results suggest the lipid-depleted killer whales were herring-specialists, while the lipid-enriched individuals might feed on both herrings and seals.</p>
Humpback whale song comparison for the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean
<p>The results of comparative song analyses between the ASSO and the Ecuadorian and Brazilian breeding populations and recordings from the Chilean, South African and Namibian migration routes revealed that individuals from at least three humpback whale breeding populations most likely migrate to shared feeding grounds in the ASSO. Humpback whales from different populations potentially mix at different times (i.e., years) at feeding hotspots of variable locations. </p>
Figure 5. A in Whale killers: Prevalence and ecological implications of killer whale predation on humpback whale calves off Western Australia
Figure 5. A young humpback calf is lifted out of the water on its mother's back while an escort (above) moves in to assist in driving off a group of attacking killer whales adjacent to Ningaloo Reef in July 2013 (#20); the attack was unsuccessful and the calf was not harmed. Photo: L. Ballance.
Figure 6 in Whale killers: Prevalence and ecological implications of killer whale predation on humpback whale calves off Western Australia
Figure 6. Killer whales feeding on the tongue and throat pleats of a humpback calf that they just killed off Ningaloo (#30). Video: J. Totterdell.
Figure 2 in Humpback whales interfering when mammal-eating killer whales attack other species: Mobbing behavior and interspecific altruism?
Figure 2. Examples of humpback whales interacting with mammal-eating killer whales attacking various prey species: (A) large type B killer whales attacking a crabeater seal hauled out on an ice floe with an agitated (bellowing) humpback in the foreground; January 2009, Western Antarctic Peninsula, Appendix S2 account #89; photo by J. Durban; (B) Bigg's killer whales attacking a gray whale calf (gray whale mother on left; wounded calf in center) with a humpback whale in the background; May 2012, Monterey Bay, CA, #55; photo E. Robinson courtesy Monterey Bay Whale Watch; (C) Bigg's killer whales attacking a Steller sea lion with humpback in the immediate background; 21 August 2010, Vancouver Island, Canada, #67; photo by R. Frank; (D) Bigg's killer whales attacking a harbor seal (below trailing edge of killer whale dorsal fin; the seal has a transmitter mounted on its head) and a humpback in the background; June 2005, Glacier Bay, AK, #91; photo by M. de Roos.
Figure 4 in Humpback whales interfering when mammal-eating killer whales attack other species: Mobbing behavior and interspecific altruism?
Figure 4. In the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, 17 Bigg's killer whales (in the background) attacked a large humpback calf accompanied by its mother and an escort in July 2003; three other adult humpbacks joined in and helped drive off the killer whales. (This record arrived too late to be included in Appendix S2). Photo: © Flip Nicklin/Minden Pictures.
Data from: High suckling rates and acoustic crypsis of humpback whale neonates maximise potential for mother–calf energy transfer
1. The migration of humpback whales to and from their breeding grounds results in a short, critical time period during which neonatal calves must acquire sufficient energy via suckling from their fasting mothers to survive the long return journey. 2. Understanding neonate suckling behaviour is critical for understanding the energetics and evolution of humpback whale migratory behaviour and for informing conservation efforts, but despite its importance, very little is known about the details, rate and behavioural context of this critical energy transfer. 3. To address this pertinent data gap on calf suckling behaviour, we deployed multi-sensor Dtags on eight humpback whale calves and two mothers allowing us to analyse detailed suckling and acoustic behaviour for a total of 68·8 h. 4. Suckling dives were performed 20·7 ± 7% of the total tagging time with the mothers either resting at the surface or at depth with the calves hanging motionless with roll and pitch angles close to zero. 5. Vocalisations between mother and calf, which included very weak tonal and grunting sounds, were produced more frequently during active dives than suckling dives, suggesting that mechanical stimuli rather than acoustic cues are used to initiate nursing. 6. Use of mechanical cues for initiating suckling and low level vocalisations with an active space of <100 m indicate a strong selection pressure for acoustic crypsis. 7. Such inconspicuous behaviour likely reduces the risk of exposure to eavesdropping predators and male humpback whale escorts that may disrupt the high proportion of time spent nursing and resting, and hence ultimately compromise calf fitness. 8. The small active space of the weak calls between mother and calf is very sensitive to increases in ambient noise from human encroachment thereby increasing the risk of mother–calf separation.
Data from: Cultural revolutions reduce complexity in the songs of humpback whales
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A deep dive into fat: Investigating blubber lipidomics fingerprint of killer whales and humpback whales in northern Norway
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Humpback whale song comparison for the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean
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Data from: The behavioural response of migrating humpback whales to a full seismic air gun array
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Data from: Multiple processes drive genetic structure of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) populations across spatial scales
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Data from: High suckling rates and acoustic crypsis of humpback whale neonates maximise potential for mother–calf energy transfer
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Humpback whale acoustic presence in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean
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Allen Brain Atlas
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International Brain Laboratory public data
The International Brain Laboratory public data releases expose standardized mouse decision-making experiments, including Neuropixels recordings, widefield calcium imaging, behavior, and session metadata accessed through the ONE API.
OpenNeuro
OpenNeuro is a free, open platform for sharing neuroimaging datasets, with public search, dataset pages, and download paths for web, S3, DataLad, and the OpenNeuro CLI.