Energetic and physical limitations on the breaching performance of large whales

Segre, Paolo S.; Potvin, J; Cade, David E.; Calambokidis, John; Clemente, Jacopo Di; Fish, Frank E.; Friedlaender, Ari S.; Gough, William T.; Kahane-Rapport, Shirel R; Oliveira, Cláudia; Parks, Susan E.; Penry, Gwenith S.; Simon, Malene; Stimpert, Alison K.; Wiley, David N.; Bierlich, K. C.; Madsen, Peter T.; Goldbogen, Jeremy A.

doi:10.7554/elife.51760

Cited by 20 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…Comparatively, the energetic cost of breaching for an 8 m basking shark weighing 2700 kg was estimated six times greater (63 to 72 kJ 10 ). These differences may be attributed to the sharks in the present study being smaller, with the cost of breaching found to increase with increasing body mass 15 . A breach likely constitutes approximately 0.05 to 0.09% of their daily metabolic cost, which ranged from 12.8 to 21.5 MJ per day 16 .…”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 60%

“…The relatively low field metabolic rate that comes with being ectothermic makes energetically demanding behaviour relatively more expensive for sharks. Therefore, the costs of performing multiple breaches may accumulate more rapidly compared to endothermic whales, such as humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ), which have been recorded breaching 17 times in a 6.5 h deployment 15 . On average, sharks required an estimated 11.5 kJ (range 3–22 kJ) of mechanical energy ( ) to perform a breach, and expended the same for each breach, regardless of whether they breached once or several times (Wilcoxon rank sum test, W = 198.5, p = 0.87; = 11.5 to 11.8 kJ, = 9.98 to 10.3 kJ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A breach likely constitutes approximately 0.05 to 0.09% of their daily metabolic cost, which ranged from 12.8 to 21.5 MJ per day 16 . For comparison, the relative cost of performing a single breach in a 7.8 m (7000 kg) humpback whale represents 0.08 to 0.5% of its daily field metabolic rate 15 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High resolution biologging of breaching by the world’s second largest shark species

Rudd

Exeter

Hall³

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Basking sharks, the world’s second largest fish, are endangered globally following two centuries of large-scale exploitation for their oily livers. In the northeast Atlantic, they seasonally gather in key sites, including the western Scottish Isles, where they feed on plankton, but their breeding grounds are currently completely unknown. Using high-resolution three-axis accelerometry and depth logging, we present the first direct records of breaching by basking sharks over 41 days. We show that basking sharks breach both during the night and day, starting at approximately 20 m depth and can breach multiple times in short succession. We also present early evidence of potential lateralisation in basking sharks. Given the energetic nature of breaching, it should have an important biological function, but this remains unclear.

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Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 60%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High resolution biologging of breaching by the world’s second largest shark species

Rudd

Exeter

Hall³

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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“…On the other hand, and because of its shorter duration, the metabolic power required during engulfment follows the opposite trend, namely: 324 kW (VGB) versus 142 kW (fluking), 157 kW versus 79 kW, and 48 kW versus 20 kW; or in terms of land mammals BMR, 12 (VGB) versus 5 (fluking), 9 versus 5 and 14 versus 6. Finally, and compared to surface breaching by humpback whales ( Segre et al 2020 ), the prey-approach expenditures by our 8 m humpback whale turn out three-times smaller given the lower maximal prey approach speeds reached, that is, as compared with the 6–7 m/s attained just prior to surface breaking.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 76%

Rorqual Lunge-Feeding Energetics Near and Away from the Kinematic Threshold of Optimal Efficiency

Potvin

Cade

Werth

et al. 2021

Integrative Organismal Biology

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Humpback and blue whales are large baleen-bearing cetaceans which use a unique prey-acquisition strategy - lunge feeding - to engulf entire patches of large plankton or schools of forage fish and the water in which they are embedded. Dynamically, and while foraging on krill, lunge-feeding incurs metabolic expenditures estimated at up to 20.0 MJ. Because of prey abundance and its capture in bulk, lunge feeding is carried out at high acquired-to-expended energy ratios of up to 30 at the largest body sizes (∼27m). We use bio-logging tag data and the work-energy theorem to show that when krill-feeding at depth while using a wide range of prey approach swimming speeds (2 to 5m/s), rorquals generate significant and widely varying metabolic power output during engulfment, typically ranging from 10 to 50 times the basal metabolic rate of land mammals. At equal prey field density, such output variations lower their feeding efficiency 2- to 3-fold at high foraging speeds, thereby allowing slow and smaller rorquals to feed more efficiently than fast and larger rorquals. The analysis also shows how the slowest speeds of harvest so far measured may be connected to the biomechanics of the buccal cavity and the prey’s ability to collectively avoid engulfment. Such minimal speeds are important as they generate the most efficient lunges.

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“…Tail slaps are the most common surface behavior observed, most likely because they are not associated with high energetic costs Segre et al, 2020). Therefore, humpback whales may only resort to breaching when noise pollution (such as that caused by high vessel presence) increases, as the sound of breaching travels much farther than the noise of a tail or pectoral fin slap.…”

Section: Behavior Frequencymentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Whale Watching on the Behavior of Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Coast of Panama

et al. 2020

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Ecotourism focused on whales and dolphins has become a popular activity and an important source of revenue for many countries. Whale watching is vital to supporting conservation efforts and provides numerous benefits to local communities including educational opportunities and job creation. However, the sustainability of whale-based ecotourism depends on the behavior and health of whale populations and it is crucial that ecotourism industries consider the impact of their activities on whale behavior. To address this statement, we collected behavioral data (e.g., change in swimming direction, frequency of breaching, slap behaviors, diving, and spy hops) from humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the marine protected area of Las Perlas Archipelago off the Pacific coast of Panama. The goal was to determine if tourist vessel presence had an influence on whale behaviors. We conducted this study during the humpback whale breeding season from August through September 2019. Based on 47 behavioral observations, we found that higher boat density corresponded with humpback whales’ frequency of direction changes, which based on previous literature is believed to be a sign of disturbance. Alternatively, no changes in behavior were observed with varying boat density. This result is important given Panamanian regulations first implemented in 2007 by Resolution AMD/ARAP No. 01, 2007 prohibit whale-based tourism from disturbing whales, which is explicitly measured by changes in whale behavior. Because there is no systematic monitoring of whale watching activity to enforce the regulations, there is currently little compliance from tour operators and tourists. The integration of animal behavior research into management planning should result in more effective regulation and compliance of such conservation policies.

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Energetic and physical limitations on the breaching performance of large whales

Cited by 20 publications

References 63 publications

High resolution biologging of breaching by the world’s second largest shark species

High resolution biologging of breaching by the world’s second largest shark species

Rorqual Lunge-Feeding Energetics Near and Away from the Kinematic Threshold of Optimal Efficiency

Impacts of Whale Watching on the Behavior of Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Coast of Panama

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