Lunge filter feeding biomechanics constrain rorqual foraging ecology across scale

Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 1, 2020

Fundamental scaling relationships influence the physiology of vital rates, which in turn shape ecology and evolution organisms. For diving mammals, benefits conferred by large body size include reduced transport costs enhanced breath-holding capacity, thereby increasing overall foraging efficiency. Rorqual whales feed engulfing a mass prey-laden water at high speed filtering it through baleen plates. However, as engulfment capacity increases with length (Engulfment Volume ∝ Body Length 3.57), surface area filter does not increase proportionally (Baleen Area Length1.82), thus filtration time larger rorquals predictably must disproportionally amount water. We predicted that should scale to power 1.75 (Filter Time Length1.75). tested this hypothesis on four rorqual species using multi-sensor tags corresponding unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS) -based estimates. found scales 1.79 (95% CI: 1.61 - 1.97). This result highlights scale-dependent trade-off between creates biomechanical constraint increased time. Consequently, target density prey patches commensurate gulp meet their energetic demands. If these optimal are absent, may experience efficiency compared smaller if they do match targeted aggregations.

Language: Английский

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Energetic and physical limitations on the breaching performance of large whales

eLife, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: March 11, 2020

The considerable power needed for large whales to leap out of the water may represent single most expensive burst maneuver found in nature. However, mechanics and energetic costs associated with breaching behaviors remain poorly understood. In this study we deployed whale-borne tags measure kinematics test hypothesis that these spectacular aerial displays are metabolically expensive. We use variable underwater trajectories, high-emergence breaches faster require more energy than predatory lunges. approach upper limits vertebrate muscle performance, cost is high enough repeated events serve as honest signaling body condition. Furthermore, confluence contractile properties, hydrodynamics, speeds required likely impose an limit size effectiveness whales.

Language: Английский

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Social exploitation of extensive, ephemeral, environmentally controlled prey patches by supergroups of rorqual whales

Animal Behaviour, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 182, P. 251 - 266

Published: Nov. 19, 2021

Language: Английский

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Scaling of maneuvering performance in baleen whales: larger whales outperform expectations

Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 225(5)

Published: March 1, 2022

ABSTRACT Despite their enormous size, whales make living as voracious predators. To catch much smaller, more maneuverable prey, they have developed several unique locomotor strategies that require high energetic input, mechanical power output and a surprising degree of agility. better understand how body size affects maneuverability at the largest scale, we used bio-logging data, aerial photogrammetry high-throughput approach to quantify maneuvering performance seven species free-swimming baleen whale. We found increases, absolute decreases: larger use lower accelerations perform slower pitch-changes, rolls turns than smaller species. also exhibit positive allometry performance: relative higher accelerations, faster certain types However, not all maneuvers were impacted by in same way, behaviorally adjust for decreased agility using can effectively. The suggests large compensated increased evolving effective control surfaces preferentially selecting play strengths.

Language: Английский

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Scaling of oscillatory kinematics and Froude efficiency in baleen whales

Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 224(13)

Published: June 10, 2021

High efficiency lunate-tail swimming with high-aspect-ratio lifting surfaces has evolved in many vertebrate lineages, from fish to cetaceans. Baleen whales (Mysticeti) are the largest animals that exhibit this locomotor strategy, and present an ideal study system examine how morphology kinematics of scale body sizes. We used data whale-borne inertial sensors coupled morphometric measurements aerial drones calculate hydrodynamic performance oscillatory six baleen whale species ranging length 5 25 m (fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus; Bryde's edeni; sei borealis; Antarctic minke bonaerensis; humpback Megaptera novaeangliae; blue musculus). found mass-specific thrust increased both speed size. Froude efficiency, defined as ratio useful power output rate energy input ( Sloop, 1978), generally but decreased on average increasing This finding is contrary previous results smaller animals, where Although our empirically parameterized estimates for drag were higher than those a simple gliding model, locomotion at exhibits high other adept swimmers. Our quantify fine-scale estimate hydrodynamics routine energetically expensive modes scale.

Language: Английский

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Fast and Furious: Energetic Tradeoffs and Scaling of High-Speed Foraging in Rorqual Whales

Integrative Organismal Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 4(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2022

Synopsis Although gigantic body size and obligate filter feeding mechanisms have evolved in multiple vertebrate lineages (mammals fishes), intermittent ram (lunge) is unique to a specific family of baleen whales: rorquals. Lunge high cost, benefit mechanism that requires the integration unsteady locomotion (i.e., accelerations maneuvers); impact scale on biomechanics energetics this foraging mode continues be subject intense study. The goal our investigation was use combination multi-sensor tags paired with UAS footage determine morphometrics such as kinematic lunging parameters fluking timing, maximum speed, deceleration during engulfment period for range species from minke blue whales. Our results show that, case krill-feeding lunges regardless size, animals exhibit skewed gradient between powered fully unpowered engulfment, generally ending at point both speed mouth opening. In all cases, small amounts propulsive thrust generated by tail were unable overcome drag forces experienced engulfment. Assuming minimal, we predicted minimum across scale. To minimize energetic cost lunge feeding, hydrodynamic theory predicts slower speeds lower boundary set ability prey avoid capture. We used empirical data test instead found remain constant (∼4 m s–1) even higher result efficiency. Regardless, an increasing relationship efficiency, estimated ratio gain cost. This trend held timescales ranging single day suggests larger whales are capturing more prey—and energy—at

Language: Английский

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Sympatry and resource partitioning between the largest krill consumers around the Antarctic Peninsula

Marine Ecology Progress Series, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 669, P. 1 - 16

Published: June 3, 2021

Understanding how closely related, sympatric species distribute themselves relative to their environment is critical understanding ecosystem structure and function predicting effects of environmental variation. The Antarctic Peninsula supports high densities krill consumers; however, the region warming rapidly, with unknown consequences. Humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae minke Balaenoptera bonaerensis are largest consumers here, yet key data gaps remain about distribution, behavior, interactions these will be impacted by changing conditions. Using satellite telemetry novel spatial point-process modeling techniques, we quantified habitat use each dynamic variables determined overlap in core areas during summer months when sea ice at a minimum. We found that humpback ranged broadly over continental shelf waters, utilizing nearshore bays, while restricted movements sheltered bays where present. This presents scenario whale overlaps substantially broader home ranges whales. While there no indication prey limiting this ecosystem, increased between may arise as climate-driven changes affect extent, timing, duration seasonal decrease amount preferred foraging for concurrently increasing it Our results provide first quantitative assessment behaviorally based sympatry 2 offers insight into potential rapidly on polar ecosystem.

Language: Английский

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Fine‐scale diversity of prey detected in humpback whale feces

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 12(12)

Published: Dec. 1, 2022

Abstract Predator diets are largely influenced by prey availability and abundance. Yet, in heterogenous marine environments, identifying the species consumed diving mammals remains a fundamental challenge. For rorqual whales, energetic constraints of engulfment require that whales seek areas high abundance execute discrete lunge feeding events on patches high‐density prey. Prey occurrences feces should therefore provide meaningful insight into dominant taxa food selected animal. We investigated humpback three regions southern British Columbia (BC), Canada, using opportunistic fecal sampling, microscopy, DNA metabarcoding 14 samples. Fish including Pacific herring ( Clupea pallasii ), hake Merluccius productus eulachon Thaleichthys pacificus ) were most common fish potentially targeted two regions. The krill Euphausia pacifica was prevalent invertebrate detected all regions, while sergestid mysid shrimp may also be important. High read abundances from walleye pollock Gadus chalcogrammus sablefish Anoplopoma fimbria recovered one sample each, suggesting juveniles these semi‐pelagic occasionally targeted. In general, we observed heavily digested material drove substantial dissimilarities taxonomic resolution between polymerase chain reaction‐based morphological analyses feces. only confirmed both methods. Our results highlight molecular visual samples complementary approach to diet analysis, with each method providing unique diversity.

Language: Английский

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Growing out of the fins: Implications of isometric and allometric scaling of morphology relative to increasing mass in blue sharks (Prionace glauca)

Zoology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 165, P. 126184 - 126184

Published: June 14, 2024

Language: Английский

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Solitary humpback whales manufacture bubble-nets as tools to increase prey intake

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(8)

Published: Aug. 1, 2024

Several animal species use tools for foraging; however, very few manufacture and/or modify those tools. Humpback whales, which bubble-net while foraging, are among these rare species. Using animal-borne tag and unoccupied aerial system technologies, we examine bubble-nets manufactured by solitary humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) in Southeast Alaska feeding on krill. We demonstrate that the nets consist of internally tangential rings suggest actively control number a net, net size depth horizontal spacing between neighbouring bubbles. argue regulate structural elements to increase per-lunge prey intake by, average, sevenfold. measured breath rate swimming lunge kinematics show resulting density does not energetic expenditure. Our results provide novel insight into how foraging act efficiency.

Language: Английский

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