All articles tagged with #baleen whales
Originally Published 2 months ago — by Phys.org
A new study shows baleen whales significantly boost ocean primary productivity by excreting nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which enhances the growth of phytoplankton and benefits the entire marine food web, with potential implications for climate regulation.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by NBC News
For the first time, researchers have captured baleen whales to study their hearing, revealing that minke whales can hear at higher frequencies than previously thought. This discovery, published in Science, suggests that these whales may use ultrasonic hearing to avoid predators like killer whales. The study, which involved capturing and testing two juvenile minke whales off Norway, has sparked controversy over potential stress and harm to the animals. The findings could influence regulations on ocean noise, as high-frequency sounds from human activities may impact whale behavior and health.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by BBC.com
Scientists have discovered how baleen whales, such as humpbacks, produce their haunting songs using a specialized "voice box" that recycles air and prevents water from being inhaled. This discovery also explains why human-made ocean noise disrupts whale communication, as their songs overlap with ship noise. The study provides crucial insight for the conservation of these endangered giants of the sea and sheds light on the evolutionary adaptations that enabled whales to communicate underwater.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Reuters
Scientists have discovered the unique anatomy behind the haunting songs of baleen whales, revealing that they use a larynx modified with a cushion of fat and muscle to produce sounds underwater. This novel structure allows baleen whales to communicate and find each other in dark oceans, with humpback whales using vocalization for communication and mating. The study also found that human-made shipping noises interfere with the whales' ability to communicate, as their vocalizations fall within the same frequency range and ocean depths.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by ABC News
Scientists have discovered how baleen whales are able to sing underwater, shedding light on the impact of shipping noise pollution on their communication abilities. The study found that baleen whales use specialized larynxes to produce massive air flows and low-frequency sounds, crucial for long-distance communication. Shipping noise, falling within the same frequency range, disrupts whale communication and poses a threat to their survival. Efforts to regulate shipping speed and reduce noise pollution are underway, but consumer demand for fast shipping adds complexity to the issue. Ongoing research and collaboration with maritime industry and government agencies are crucial for finding solutions to protect marine wildlife.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by The New York Times
A recent study published in the journal Nature has shed light on how baleen whales produce sounds using their vocal cords. By conducting experiments on the larynx of three deceased whales, scientists discovered that the whales' larynx has evolved to accommodate their need to expel large amounts of air quickly while breathing at the sea surface. This adaptation allows them to produce the diverse range of sounds, including singing and whistling, that have intrigued humans for centuries.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Phys.org
A 19-million-year-old fossil jaw bone discovered in South Australia suggests that the evolution of large baleen whales occurred much earlier than previously thought. The fossil, estimated to be from a nine-meter-long baleen whale, challenges the belief that baleen whales remained relatively small until the ice ages. Fossil finds from the Southern Hemisphere indicate that larger baleen whales may have emerged earlier in their evolutionary history, with the region potentially serving as the cradle of gigantic whale evolution. The findings shed light on the ancient role of whales in the ocean ecosystem and their potential response to global climate change.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Conversation
A 19-million-year-old fossil jaw bone discovered on the banks of the Murray River in South Australia suggests that the evolution of large baleen whales may have occurred much earlier than previously thought. The fossil, estimated to be from a nine-meter-long baleen whale, challenges the belief that baleen whales remained relatively small until the ice ages. The discovery, along with other fossils from the Southern Hemisphere, indicates that larger baleen whales may have emerged earlier in their evolutionary history. This finding suggests that the Southern Hemisphere played a significant role in the evolution of gigantic whales.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The US Sun
Scientists have discovered that whales wear seaweed for various reasons, including itch relief, barnacle removal, and potentially for fun. A study focused on baleen whales found that the seaweed is often worn in front of the blowhole or on the dorsal fin. Seaweed has antibacterial properties that could benefit the whales. The researchers suggest that this behavior may serve additional purposes such as learning, socializing, and skin treatment. The study highlights the need for further research on these giant marine creatures, with the hope that increased use of drones and cameras will provide more insights into this behavior.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Phys.org
A new fossil discovery in China reveals that the marine reptile Hupehsuchus, which lived 250 million years ago, had adaptations for whale-like filter feeding. The skull of Hupehsuchus shows soft structures that allowed it to engulf water containing prey and baleen whale-like structures to filter food. The discovery suggests that these reptiles independently evolved a form of baleen, similar to modern baleen whales. This finding sheds light on the rapid re-population of the oceans after the end-Permian mass extinction and the ecological changes that occurred during the Early Triassic period.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Earth.com
Scientists have gained new insights into the feeding habits of pygmy right whales, the smallest and most mysterious species of baleen whales. Using an innovative approach that analyzed stable isotopes in the whales' baleen plates, researchers discovered that these whales primarily feed on copepods and krill in mid-latitude waters off the coast of southern Australia. Unlike other baleen whales, they do not undertake long-distance migrations to Antarctic waters. The study highlights the vulnerability of pygmy right whales to environmental changes and emphasizes the need for conservation efforts to protect these unique oceanic creatures.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Fox News
A new study has revealed that the Antarctic minke whale, the smallest of the baleen whales, has the smallest possible body size to capture enough prey to survive using the foraging behavior called lunge-feeding. The research showed that all filter-feeding whales are big, and that animals must have attained a large size before the unique behavior of lunge-feeding evolved. The repeated lunging requires a high investment of energy, and the efficiency of foraging this way favors a larger body size.