Tag

Ecotypes

All articles tagged with #ecotypes

science1 year ago•4 min saved

Orcas Develop Unique Strategy to Hunt Giant Whale Sharks

New research has documented how an orca pod off the coast of Mexico hunts whale sharks, the world's largest fish. The orcas use a strategic method to flip the sharks belly-up, inducing a state of tonic immobility, before targeting their nutrient-rich livers. This behavior, captured in images and videos, marks the first detailed observation of orcas preying on whale sharks, suggesting a potential new ecotype in the Gulf of California. Despite the predation, there are no significant impacts on the whale shark population in the area.

via CNN|

#ecotypes #marine-biology #orcas

science-and-technology1 year ago•4 min saved

"Rogue Killer Whales: Reshaping Marine Biology with Brutal Hunting Tactics"

Killer whales in the Monterey Submarine Canyon off the coast of California deploy brutal, co-ordinated attacks when hunting, targeting mother and calf pairs of grey whales. Different killer-whale ecotypes have distinct hunting cultures and communicate using unique dialects. A study led by Josh McInnes revealed specialized hunting strategies of outer-coast transient killer whales, including repeated battering and drowning of grey whale calves. Additionally, a newly discovered population of killer whales was observed hunting large marine mammals in the north Pacific, showcasing impressive predatory force. Further genetic data collection is needed to fully describe these new ecotypes.

via The Economist|

#ecotypes #hunting-techniques #killer-whales

environment2 years ago•6 min saved

"Unveiling an Ancient Orca Oasis: 20,000-Year-Old Refugium Discovered in Northern Pacific"

Researchers have discovered that orca pods in the northern Pacific, near Japan and Russia, have distinct cultures, dialects, and traditions due to their ice age ancestry. Some pods have stayed in their refugiums from the ice age rather than migrating, leading to differences in diet and behavior. The researchers argue for the classification of orcas into several species or subspecies to better understand their ecotypes and their impact on ecosystem balance and fishing practices.

via SciTechDaily|

#ecotypes #environment #ice-age

environment2 years ago•3 min saved

The Mysterious Phenomenon of Killer Whales Attacking Boats.

Killer whales near Spain and Portugal are colliding with and sinking boats, and researchers believe they may be imitating the behavior of a single female orca named White Gladis. The behavior may have been triggered after White Gladis was hit by a boat, or it may be playful. Orcas are highly intelligent and social creatures, and the behavior is spreading among the population. While the behavior is unlikely to spread to other orca populations, continued clashes with boats could result in serious injury or death to a person or a whale.

via Business Insider|

#boat-collisions #ecotypes #environment