Variation in dive behavior of Cuvier’s beaked whales with seafloor depth, time-of-day, and lunar illumination

2020 ◽  
Vol 644 ◽  
pp. 199-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Barlow ◽  
GS Schorr ◽  
EA Falcone ◽  
D Moretti

Depth distributions were analyzed from a study of 19 Cuvier’s beaked whales Ziphius cavirostris that were tagged with satellite transmitting instruments off southern California, USA. Over 113000 depth measurements were made over the equivalent of ~200 sampling days. The mean foraging depth was 1182 m (SD = 305 m), and the mean of the maximum depth of all foraging dives was 1427 m (SD = 298 m). Mean foraging depths increased with seafloor depths up to a maximum of ~1300 m at a seafloor depth of 1900 m, but decreased slightly to a mean of ~1200 m at seafloor depths of 2000-4000 m. Near-bottom habitat appears to be important for foraging; whales spent ~30% of their foraging time within 200 m of the bottom at seafloor depths of 1000-2000 m. However, little foraging time was spent near the bottom at seafloor depths greater than 2000 m. The percentage of time spent at near-surface depths (<50 m) was more than twice as high at night (25%) than during the day (12%). Lunar light also appears to affect diving, with 28% of dark nights and only 17% of brightly moonlit nights spent at these near-surface depths. The apparent avoidance of surface waters during daytime and on brightly moonlit nights is consistent with avoidance of visual predators. A considerably greater fraction of time was spent foraging at night (24.8%) than during the day (15.7%), possibly due to energetic constraints imposed by predator avoidance during the day.

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.W Johnston ◽  
M McDonald ◽  
J Polovina ◽  
R Domokos ◽  
S Wiggins ◽  
...  

Seamounts may influence the distribution of marine mammals through a combination of increased ocean mixing, enhanced local productivity and greater prey availability. To study the effects of seamounts on the presence and acoustic behaviour of cetaceans, we deployed a high-frequency acoustic recording package on the summit of Cross Seamount during April through October 2005. The most frequently detected cetacean vocalizations were echolocation sounds similar to those produced by ziphiid and mesoplodont beaked whales together with buzz-type signals consistent with prey-capture attempts. Beaked whale signals occurred almost entirely at night throughout the six-month deployment. Measurements of prey presence with a Simrad EK-60 fisheries acoustics echo sounder indicate that Cross Seamount may enhance local productivity in near-surface waters. Concentrations of micronekton were aggregated over the seamount in near-surface waters at night, and dense concentrations of nekton were detected across the surface of the summit. Our results suggest that seamounts may provide enhanced foraging opportunities for beaked whales during the night through a combination of increased productivity, vertical migrations by micronekton and local retention of prey. Furthermore, the summit of the seamount may act as a barrier against which whales concentrate prey.


1999 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 243-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
John W. Castellani ◽  
Andrew J. Young ◽  
James E. Kain ◽  
Michael N. Sawka

This study examined how time of day affects thermoregulation during cold-water immersion (CWI). It was hypothesized that the shivering and vasoconstrictor responses to CWI would differ at 0700 vs. 1500 because of lower initial core temperatures (Tcore) at 0700. Nine men were immersed (20°C, 2 h) at 0700 and 1500 on 2 days. No differences ( P > 0.05) between times were observed for metabolic heat production (M˙, 150 W ⋅ m−2), heat flow (250 W ⋅ m−2), mean skin temperature (T sk, 21°C), and the mean body temperature-change in M˙(ΔM˙) relationship. Rectal temperature (Tre) was higher ( P < 0.05) before (Δ = 0.4°C) and throughout CWI during 1500. The change in Tre was greater ( P < 0.05) at 1500 (−1.4°C) vs. 0700 (−1.2°C), likely because of the higher Tre-T skgradient (0.3°C) at 1500. These data indicate that shivering and vasoconstriction are not affected by time of day. These observations raise the possibility that CWI may increase the risk of hypothermia in the early morning because of a lower initial Tcore.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
William R. Cioffi ◽  
Nicola J. Quick ◽  
Heather J. Foley ◽  
Danielle M. Waples ◽  
Zachary T. Swaim ◽  
...  

PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. e0199241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanan Wu ◽  
Jiakai Liu ◽  
Jiexiu Zhai ◽  
Ling Cong ◽  
Yu Wang ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 58 (209) ◽  
pp. 529-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shin Sugiyama ◽  
Hiroyuki Enomoto ◽  
Shuji Fujita ◽  
Kotaro Fukui ◽  
Fumio Nakazawa ◽  
...  

AbstractDuring the Japanese-Swedish Antarctic traverse expedition of 2007/08, we measured the surface snow density at 46 locations along the 2800 km long route from Syowa station to Wasa station in East Antarctica. The mean snow density for the upper 1 (or 0.5) m layer varied from 333 to 439 kg m-3 over a region spanning an elevation range of 365-3800 ma.s.l. The density variations were associated with the elevation of the sampling sites; the density decreased as the elevation increased, moving from the coastal region inland. However, the density was relatively insensitive to the change in elevation along the ridge on the Antarctic plateau between Dome F and Kohnen stations. Because surface wind is weak in this region, irrespective of elevation, the wind speed was suggested to play a key role in the near-surface densification. The results of multiple regression performed on the density using meteorological variables were significantly improved by the inclusion of wind speed as a predictor. The regression analysis yielded a linear dependence between the density and the wind speed, with a coefficient of 13.5 kg m-3 (m s-1)-1. This relationship is nearly three times stronger than a value previously computed from a dataset available in Antarctica. Our data indicate that the wind speed is more important to estimates of the surface snow density in Antarctica than has been previously assumed.


Author(s):  
Timothy Marchok

AbstractMultiple configurations of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory vortex tracker are tested to determine a setup that produces the best representation of a model forecast tropical cyclone center fix for the purpose of providing track guidance with the highest degree of accuracy and availability. Details of the tracking algorithms are provided, including descriptions of both the Barnes analysis used for center-fixing most variables and a separate scheme used for center-fixing wind circulation. The tracker is tested by running multiple configurations on all storms from the 2015-2017 hurricane seasons in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific Basins using forecasts from two operational National Weather Service models, the Global Forecast System (GFS) and the Hurricane Weather Research and Forecast (HWRF) model. A configuration that tracks only 850 mb geopotential height has the smallest forecast track errors of any configuration based on an individual parameter. However, a configuration composed of the mean of eleven parameters outperforms any of the configurations that are based on individual parameters. Configurations composed of subsets of the eleven parameters and including both mass and momentum variables provide results comparable to or better than the full 11-parameter configuration. In particular, a subset configuration with thickness variables excluded generally outperforms the 11-parameter mean, while one composed of variables from only the 850 mb and near-surface layers performs nearly as well as the 11-parameter mean. Tracker configurations composed of multiple variables are more reliable in providing guidance through the end of a forecast period than are tracker configurations based on individual parameters.


2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (3) ◽  
pp. E413-E420 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Simon ◽  
L. Weibel ◽  
G. Brandenberger

To determine whether the ultradian and circadian rhythms of glucose and insulin secretion rate (ISR) are adapted to their permanent nocturnal schedule, eight night workers were studied during their usual 24-h cycle with continuous enteral nutrition and a 10-min blood sampling procedure and were compared with 8 day-active subjects studied once with nocturnal sleep and once with an acute 8-h-shifted sleep. The mean 24-h glucose and ISR levels were similar in the three experiments. The duration and the number of the ultradian oscillations were influenced neither by the time of day nor by the sleep condition or its shift, but their mean amplitude increased during sleep whenever it occurred. In day-active subjects, glucose and ISR levels were high during nighttime sleep and then decreased to a minimum in the afternoon. After the acute sleep shift, the glucose and ISR rhythms were split in a biphasic pattern with a slight increase during the night of deprivation and another during daytime sleep. In night workers, the glucose and ISR peak levels exhibited an 8-h shift in accordance with the sleep shift, but the onset of the glucose rise underwent a shift of only 6 h and the sleep-related amplification of the glucose and ISR oscillations did not occur simultaneously. These results demonstrate that despite a predominant influence of sleep, the 24-h glucose and ISR rhythms are only partially adapted in permanent night workers.


2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 1466-1471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flor Diana Yokoay Claros Chacaltana ◽  
João Antonio Tadeu Pigatto ◽  
Ione Terezinha Denardin

ABSTRACT: The aim of this research was to measure the intraocular pressure (IOP) of normal chinchilla eyes using the rebound tonometer. A further aim was to assess whether there were differences in the values of intraocular pressure in relation to animals age, gender and time of day. Thirty-six chinchillas were divided into three groups of 12 chinchillas each, by age: Group I (2-6-month-old), Group II (20 and 34 months) and Group III (37 and 135 months). Ophthalmic examination was performed previously by Schirmer tear test, slit lamp biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy and fluorescein test in all chinchillas. Three measurements of intraocular pressure were assessed on the same day (7, 12 and 19h). Tonometry was performed on both eyes using the rebound tonometer after calibration in "p" mode. Statistical analysis was performed with SigmaPlot for Windows. The mean IOP for groups I, II and III were 2.47±0.581mmHg, 2.47±0.581mmHg and 2.51±0.531mmHg, respectively. No significant differences were reported between age and IOP and no significant differences were reported between the time of day and IOP. The IOP in chinchillas did not differ significantly between genders or ages of the animals, and did not change with time of day.


1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 174-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Haddad ◽  
L. Zikovsky

A new method for the determination of Sr-90 dissolved in surface waters has been developed. It is based on the precipitation of Sr with 8-hydroxyquinoline at pH 11.3 and counting of β particles with energy above 150 keV. The detection limit obtained is 0.5 mBq/L and the mean yield is 28%. The decontamination factors from other β emitters achieved are better than 10 000. This method has been used to measure the Sr-90 in 5 lakes and 5 rivers in Québec and activities ranging from 3 to 15 mBq/L were obtained. This new method is as efficient and reliable as conventional techniques while being less tedious.


2017 ◽  
Vol 56 (9) ◽  
pp. 2561-2575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aitor Atencia ◽  
Isztar Zawadzki ◽  
Marc Berenguer

AbstractThe most widely used technique for nowcasting of quantitative precipitation in operational and research centers is the Lagrangian extrapolation of the latest radar observations. However, this technique has a limited forecast skill because of the assumption made on its formulation, such as the fact that the motion vectors do not change and, even more important for convective events, neglect any growth or decay in the precipitation field. In this work, the McGill Algorithm for Precipitation Nowcasting by Lagrangian Extrapolation (MAPLE) errors have been computed for 10 yr of radar composite data over the continental United States. The study of these errors shows systematic bias depending on the time of day. This effect is related to the solar cycle, whose heating energy results in an increase in the average rainfall in the afternoon. This external forcing interacts with the atmospheric system, creating local initiation and dissipation of convection depending on orography, land use, cloud coverage, etc. The signal of the diurnal cycle in MAPLE precipitation forecast has been studied in different locations and spatial scales as a function of lead time in order to recognize where, when, and for which spatial scales the signal is significant. This information has been used in the development of a scaling correction scheme where the mean errors due to the diurnal cycle are adjusted. The results show that the developed methodology improves the forecast for the spatial scales and locations where the diurnal cycle signal is significant.


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