Whale Biology

Whales and Dolphins Uniting for Survival, Bounty, or Companionship?

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.

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Toxic chemicals from plastics found in Norwegian marine mammals

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.

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Why are baby whales and dolphins born with whiskers?

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.

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Toxic Menus: Contaminants Threaten the Health of North Atlantic Killer Whales

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

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Unlocking the Secrets of Female Common Dolphin Reproduction in New Zealand

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

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What secrets can we uncover from dead whales?

The death of a whale can happen at sea or onshore if the animal beaches itself. Examining the dead whales can reveal many secrets like the cause of death, but also how a whale’s body works. In this post, we will explore the lesser-known area of cetacean research, post-mortem investigations, commonly known as necropsies. We

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Scientists can now use the DNA of dolphins to know their age

One of the most fundamental pieces of information about individuals (including dolphins) is their age. In biology studies, scientists need to know how old an animal is to understand many aspects of its life history and, for example, to estimate the viability of a population. But estimating an animal’s age is no easy feat when

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Bros for life! Dolphin males can form life-long relationships with one another

Dolphin males can sometimes form life-long friendships with one another. This type of relationship is known in the field as “male pair bonds.” These bonds are typically formed between two males (sometimes three) of similar age. The males in the pair bond will engage in a range of cooperative activities, like hunting and courting females,

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