Despite progress in reducing pollution, long-banned contaminants continue to threaten whales in Eastern Canada.
Banned contaminants are still affecting whales in Eastern Canada Read More »
Whales are unlikely to swallow humans due to their anatomy and behavior. Baleen whales, with small esophagi, filter-feed on tiny prey, while toothed whales have larger throats but do not treat humans as prey. Encounters are generally non-aggressive and driven by curiosity. Historical anecdotes and myths exaggerate these possibilities.
Can Whales Eat and Swallow Humans? Read More »
The Moskva was the largest and most powerful non-nuclear icebreaker at her delivery time. She got international attention in 1985 when she herded around 2000 ice-entrapped belugas back to the open sea … by playing classical music. Yes, you read that right! What is an icebreaker? An icebreaker is a class of ships that can
Russian ship played classical music to rescue entrapped belugas Read More »
Cetaceans like whales, dolphins, and porpoises form interspecies associations for predator deterrence, predator avoidance, foraging, and socialization. These behaviors can involve thousands in a pod, with practices like coordinated feeding and shifts for vigilance against predators. Such alliances may also have aspects like alloparenting and possible interspecies communication, showcasing complex social dynamics and cooperative strategies among different species within the marine environment.
Whales and Dolphins Uniting for Survival, Bounty, or Companionship? Read More »
Plasticizers added to plastics give them their properties, but these chemicals can leach into the oceans and harm marine life. Recent studies found plastic chemicals in marine mammals in Norway, raising concerns about their prevalence and impact. To help, reduce plastic use, recycle, and support policies to ban harmful chemicals and protect ocean creatures.
Toxic chemicals from plastics found in Norwegian marine mammals Read More »
Vibrissae, or whiskers, are found in most mammals, including cetaceans like dolphins, whales, and porpoises. These were likely inherited from terrestrial ancestors, serving as sensory organs during these species’ evolution from land to water. While in many cetaceans, whiskers disappear as they mature, leaving behind small cavities termed ‘vibrissal crypts’, certain species, such as the Amazon river dolphin, retain them, helping in food detection and possibly electroreception.
Why are baby whales and dolphins born with whiskers? Read More »
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), though banned, remain a threat to marine ecosystems, particularly damaged the harbor porpoises in the North Sea. A study found that these porpoises consume high concentrations of such pollutants while feeding, compromising their health and reproduction. Transferred from mothers to calves through lactation, these chemicals, such as PCBs, pose a major concern for the future population of these marine mammals. This calls for enhanced conservation strategies and more responsible individual actions.
Harbor porpoise calves ingest toxic chemicals through their mother’s milk Read More »
Manatees, affectionately known as “sea cows” or “mermaids,” are peaceful herbivorous giants found in fresh and saltwater coastal areas. Despite lacking natural predators in the case of the West Indian Manatees (the ones we find in North America), their population numbers are not as robust as one might expect. This post will shed light on
Florida Manatees -Tough on the outside, but not invincible Read More »
In a ground-breaking new study just published in Environmental Science & Technology, a disturbing picture of contamination among North Atlantic killer whales has emerged. Persistent organic contaminants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides (DDTs, Chlordanes, etc.), and flame retardants, were detected at alarming levels in these apex marine predators. This study sheds light on the
Toxic Menus: Contaminants Threaten the Health of North Atlantic Killer Whales Read More »
Understanding the life history of organisms helps us learn how they grow and develop traits that help them survive in their environment. It also reveals how vulnerable a population can be if certain behaviors and traits put them at risk of extinction. In our rapidly changing world, studying a species’ life history is important to
Unlocking the Secrets of Female Common Dolphin Reproduction in New Zealand Read More »
