Stable isotopes in southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) baleen as indicators of seasonal movements, feeding and growth

1996 ◽  
Vol 124 (4) ◽  
pp. 483-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. B. Best ◽  
D. M. Schell
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotopes ◽  
Seasonal Movements ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Eubalaena Australis

scholarly journals Fatty acids and stable isotopes (δ13C, δ15N) in southern right whale Eubalaena australis calves in relation to age and mortality at Península Valdés, Argentina

2020 ◽  
Vol 646 ◽  
pp. 189-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
CF Marón ◽  
SM Budge ◽  
RE Ward ◽  
LO Valenzuela ◽  
M Di Martino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Stable Isotopes ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Eubalaena Australis ◽  
Fat Reserves ◽  
Fa Composition ◽  
Calf Survival

Baleen whales accumulate fat reserves during the summer to sustain reproduction while fasting in the winter. The southern right whale Eubalaena australis population that calves off Península Valdés, Argentina, experienced high calf mortality events from 2003 to 2013 and poor nutritional states of mothers could be a contributing cause. Previous studies found that the population’s reproductive success is influenced by prey availability. Mothers unable to build sufficient fat reserves or feeding on prey with different nutritional value may fail to meet the demands of lactation. Milk is the only source of nutrients and energy for calves at Valdés, so their fatty acids (FAs) and stable isotopes should reflect their mother’s diet and feeding-ground locations. Here, we compared FA profiles and C and N stable isotopes of dead calves with those of living calves to evaluate the potential impact of maternal nutrition on calf survival. We found no differences in the FA composition of blubber in dead and living calves, indicating similar maternal diets. Likewise, the isotopic values of living and dead calves imply that their mothers had similar foraging ranges. However, FA composition was greatly affected by calf length, indicating effects of calf age and duration of nursing. These findings suggest that mothers of dead calves did not feed on different diets or feeding grounds compared to mothers of living calves. Future research should further assess the overall health and body condition of the Valdés southern right whale calves.

Half a century of sightings data of southern right whales in Mar del Plata (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

2019 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 165-171
Author(s):  
Maria A. Mandiola ◽  
Gisela Giardino ◽  
Julián Bastida ◽  
Sergio Morón ◽  
Diego H. Rodríguez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Buenos Aires ◽  
Buenos Aires Province ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Eubalaena Australis ◽  
Coastal Marine ◽  
Past Half Century ◽  
Southern Right Whales ◽  
Inshore Waters

AbstractIn South-western Atlantic waters, individuals of the southern right whale (SRW) Eubalaena australis spend part of the year (the austral winter and spring) in northern inshore waters where they breed and then migrate to southern feeding grounds during the summer. Mar del Plata (MDP) is located between two main reproductive areas (Península Valdés-Argentina and Santa Catarina-Brazil). The purpose of the present study is to report the presence of SRWs on their journey off the coast of MDP based on sighting records during the past half century. We carried out whale observations through systematic weekly coastal marine mammal surveys in different points of the MDP area from 1966 to 2016. The first SRW sighting was recorded in 1970; since then, sighting frequency has gradually increased, reaching a peak of 28 sightings (N = 63 whales) in 2016. These are unique long-term sighting records of SRWs in Argentina and the first on their journey off the shores of Buenos Aires province. We expect that these results will help local authorities to regulate tourism and other activities in the area and thereby contribute to the conservation of the species.

Intestinal lactase activity in southern right whale calves (Eubalaena australis)

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 398-403
Author(s):  
Kevin D. Kohl ◽  
Carina F. Marón ◽  
Andrea Chirife ◽  
Matías Di Martino ◽  
M. Denise Dearing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lactase Activity ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Eubalaena Australis

scholarly journals Anatomy of nasal complex in the southern right whale, Eubalaena australis (Cetacea, Mysticeti)

2014 ◽  
Vol 226 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mónica R. Buono ◽  
Marta S. Fernández ◽  
R. Ewan Fordyce ◽  
Joy S. Reidenberg
Keyword(s):  
Right Whale ◽  
Eubalaena Australis

Estimated calving interval for the New Zealand southern right whale (Eubalaena australis)

2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 372-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Raphael Davidson ◽  
William Rayment ◽  
Steve M Dawson ◽  
Trudi Webster ◽  
Elisabeth Slooten
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Calving Interval ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Eubalaena Australis

scholarly journals Upcall production by southern right whale (Eubalaena australis ) mother-calf pairs may be independent of diel period in a nursery area

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 669-677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia R. G. Dombroski ◽  
Susan E. Parks ◽  
Karina R. Groch ◽  
Paulo A. C. Flores ◽  
Renata S. Sousa-lima
Keyword(s):  
Nursery Area ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Eubalaena Australis ◽  
Diel Period

scholarly journals The use of underwater viewing deck of the semi-submersible whalewatching vessel Yellow Submarine at Península Valdés, Argentina as a platform of opportunity for scientifc research with the southern right whale, Eubalaena australis

10.5597/00242 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 2-8
Author(s):  
Mariano Sironi ◽  
Lucía Alzugaray ◽  
Agustina Saez ◽  
Florencia Ornela Vilches ◽  
Alejandro Fernández Ajó ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Short Duration ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Photo Identification ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Eubalaena Australis ◽  
Southern Right Whales ◽  
History Of

Whale-watching vessels can be used as platforms to collect scientific data on the natural history of cetaceans. Vessels with underwater viewing decks are exceptional and offer a unique view of the whales. We assessed the underwater viewing platform of the semi-submersible vessel Yellow Submarine that operates off Puerto Pirámides, Península Valdés, Argentina as a platform of opportunity for southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) research. The variables considered during observations included, among others, the age class and sex of the animals observed, behavioral patterns, opportunities for individual photo-identification, distance and duration of the underwater observations and how weather conditions affected data collection. The Yellow Submarine offers a unique platform to make underwater observations of southern right whales in this calving ground. The main limitations are the relatively short duration of the observations and reduced visibility in spring.

scholarly journals Stranding events of southern right whales, Eubalaena australis, in southern Brazil

2020 ◽  
pp. 157-160
Author(s):  
Antonio B. Greig ◽  
Eduardo R. Secchi ◽  
Alexandre N. Zerbini ◽  
Luciano Dalla Rosa
Keyword(s):  
Storm Surges ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Brazilian Coast ◽  
Illegal Hunting ◽  
Right Whale ◽  
Eubalaena Australis ◽  
Marine Traffic ◽  
Right Whales ◽  
Southern Right Whales ◽  
The Right

Although international protection has been granted since 1935, southern right whales have only recently shown signs of recovery, possiblydue to anthropogenic factors. Off Brazil, illegal hunting of right whales occurred until 1973. This paper reports on surveys conducted alongthe southern Brazilian coast and the information recovered on right whale strandings for this area from 1977-1995. In the first 10 years ofthis period only four cases were registered. However, in contrast, 20 cases were counted during the last nine years. These results arediscussed in relation to marine traffic and the fisheries in the area that produce risks of collision and entanglement. Further, the possibilityof storm surges being a preponderant factor in the mortalities in this area is presented. These yearly rates are compared with neighbouringareas that are also inhabited by the right whales. Both possibilities fit the hypothesis that the right whales using the Brazilian coast forbreeding may finally be showing signs of recovery.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document