Environmental Correlates of Cetacean Mass Stranding Sites in Florida

Walker, Rebekah J.; Keith, Edward O.; Yankovsky, Alexander E.; Odell, Daniel K.

doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.2005.tb01233.x

Cited by 20 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 12 publications

(13 reference statements)

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“…Evans et al, 2005) and the location of feeding areas, e.g. the highly productive areas associated with upwelling fronts (Walker et al, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Historical trends in the incidence of strandings of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) on North Sea coasts: An association with positive temperature anomalies

Pierce¹,

Santos²,

Smeenk³

et al. 2007

Fisheries Research

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“…Evans et al, 2005) and the location of feeding areas, e.g. the highly productive areas associated with upwelling fronts (Walker et al, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…due to shifts in distribution related to climate-driven changes in productivity (Evans et al, 2005). For example, cetaceans may follow upwelling fronts and run a greater risk of becoming stranded if the front is close to the shore (Walker et al, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical trends in the incidence of strandings of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) on North Sea coasts: An association with positive temperature anomalies

Pierce¹,

Santos²,

Smeenk³

et al. 2007

Fisheries Research

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“…Some hypotheses include naval exercises involving sonar, diseases, global warming, lunar cycles, anomalies in weather and ocean bottom topography, parasitism and chemical or noise pollutants, to mention a few (Klinowska 1985;Perrin & Geraci 2002;Walker et al 2005;Brownell et al 2009;D'Amico et al 2009;Morell 2009;Hays 2011;Fernandez et al 2012). Some hypotheses include naval exercises involving sonar, diseases, global warming, lunar cycles, anomalies in weather and ocean bottom topography, parasitism and chemical or noise pollutants, to mention a few (Klinowska 1985;Perrin & Geraci 2002;Walker et al 2005;Brownell et al 2009;D'Amico et al 2009;Morell 2009;Hays 2011;Fernandez et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cetacean beachings correlate with geomagnetic disturbances in Earth's magnetosphere: an example of how astronomical changes impact the future of life

Ferrari

2016

International Journal of Astrobiology

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The beaching and stranding of whales and dolphins around the world has been mystifying scientists for centuries. Although many theories have been proposed, few are substantiated by unequivocal statistical evidence. Advances in the field of animal magnetoreception have established that many organisms, including cetaceans, have an internal 'compass,' which they use for orientation when traveling long distances. Astrobiology involves not only the origin and distribution of life in the universe, but also the scientific study of how extraterrestrial conditions affect evolution of life on planet Earth. The focus of this study is how cetacean life is influenced by disturbances in its environment that originate from an astrological phenomenonin the present study that involves solar flares and cetacean beachings. Solar storms are caused by major coronal eruptions on the Sun. Upon reaching Earth, they cause disturbances in Earth's normally stable magnetosphere. Unable to follow an accurate magnetic bearing under such circumstances, cetaceans lose their compass reading while travelling and, depending on their juxtaposition and nearness to land, eventually beach themselves. (1) This hypothesis was supported by six separate, independent surveys of beachings: (A) in the Mediterranean Sea, (B) the northern Gulf of Mexico, (C) the east and (D) west coasts of the USA and two surveys (E and F) from around the world. When the six surveys were pooled (1614 strandings), a highly significant correlation (R 2 = 0.981) of when strandings occurred with when major geomagnetic disturbances in Earth's magnetosphere occurred was consistent with this hypothesis. (2) Whale and dolphin strandings in the northern Gulf of Mexico and the east coast of the USA were correlated (R 2 = 0.919, R 2 = 0.924) with the number of days before and after a geomagnetic storm. (3) Yearly strandings were correlated with annual geomagnetic storm days. (4) Annual beachings of cetaceans from 1998 to 2012 were linearly correlated (R 2 = 0.751) with frequency of annual sunspot numbers. Thus, consistently strong statistical correlation evidence indicates that an astronomical phenomenonsolar flarescan cause cetaceans to change their behaviour and become disoriented, which eventually causes them to swim onto a shore and beach themselves.

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“…Many strandings, especially those of one or two animals, are often attributed to disease, parasitism, or old age (Dailey and Walker 1978;Jauniaux et al 1997;Evans et al 2005), entanglement with fishing gear (Félix et al 1997;Hooker et al 1997), other injuries (Walsh et al 1991), or disorientation caused by environmental conditions (Mignucci-Giannoni et al 1999;Walker et al 2005). The causes of mass stranding events are even less clear, as they are often complicated by the presence of seemingly healthy individuals within the stranded group (e.g., Brabyn and McLean 1992).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…The likelihood that a stranding will be reported is also dependent on physical oceanographic features that bring the body of the animal to shore, such as upwelling and downwelling (Norman et al 2004). The degree of buoyancy of different species and different body states (healthy or emaciated) and the currents and wind also affect when and where the animal will be found (Norman et al 2004;Walker et al 2005). Categories used to describe causes of mortality may often underestimate the effect of human activities on stranding events; while entanglement in fishing gear and ship strikes often result in identifiable external injuries, it is more difficult to link the use of sonar signals in military exercises and seismic surveys to strandings (see Weilgart 2007 for a review; Simmonds and LopezJurado 1991; Engel et al 2004).…”

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confidence: 99%

Cetacean Strandings in the Canadian Maritime Provinces, 1990-2008

et al. 2010

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inclusive) from across the region. During this period, a total of 640 stranding events involving 19 species and 881individuals of both sexes and varying age groups were reported. Stranding events primarily involved single animals, although several mass strandings were recorded, the largest involving 60 Long-finned Pilot Whales (Globicephala melas). The number of strandings was found to vary substantially over time and among the three provinces. In part, this is likely a reflection of differences in local network effort among regions. Most animals were found dead ashore. Entanglement in fishing gear occurred in over 10% of the incidents. Relatively more mysticetes were found dead ashore or at sea and entangled in fishing gear than expected by chance, while more odontocetes were found stranded alive than expected. Harbour Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) appear to be especially vulnerable to entanglement in fishing gear. Necropsies, performed on a subsample of the stranded animals, suggest that Harbour Porpoises die significantly more often from disease than mishap, while Long-finned Pilot Whales and Atlantic White-sided Dolphins (Lagenorhynchus acutus) suffer equally from mishap and disease. Refloating was attempted for 23% of animals, with an apparent success rate of 83%, although there are no data on long-term survival. Neither sex nor age of the refloated animals was found to be an indicator of subsequent short-term survival.Key Words: cetaceans, Atlantic White-sided Dolphin, Lagenorhynchus acutus, Harbour Porpoise, Phocoena phocoena, Longfinned Pilot Whale, Globicephala melas, incidental catch, stranding, Maritimes, Canada. NEMIROFF, WIMMER, DAOUST, AND MCALPINE: CETACEAN STRANDINGS 33and Lounsbury 2005). For some rare cetaceans, most of what is known about the biology of these species has been gleaned from stranded animals (e.g., Kenyon 1961). Ideally, volunteers and paid personnel are trained to respond quickly and effectively to strandings, to coordinate refloating efforts when possible, to collect information, and to provide liaison with the public. Systematic efforts are made to collect, compile, and analyze data from all stranding events. There are four principal organizations that collect stranding information and participate in refloating attempts in the three Canadian Maritime provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island):(1) the Marine Animal Response Society (MARS) in Nova Scotia, (2) the New Brunswick Museum, (3) the Grand Manan Whale and Seabird Research Station (GMWSRS) in New Brunswick; and (4) the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island. The Marine Animal Response Network of Atlantic Canada (MARNAC) is a cooperative effort among these groups and others.Data collected by stranding networks may be useful in monitoring the status, distribution, and seasonal abundance of species (e.g., Osborne and Ransom 1988;Ferrero et al. 1994; Evans and Hammond 2004; Norman et al. 2004;Maldini et al. 2005). For instance, in an analysis of 65 years of data collected from b...

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Environmental Correlates of Cetacean Mass Stranding Sites in Florida

Cited by 20 publications

References 12 publications

Historical trends in the incidence of strandings of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) on North Sea coasts: An association with positive temperature anomalies

Historical trends in the incidence of strandings of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) on North Sea coasts: An association with positive temperature anomalies

Cetacean beachings correlate with geomagnetic disturbances in Earth's magnetosphere: an example of how astronomical changes impact the future of life

Cetacean Strandings in the Canadian Maritime Provinces, 1990-2008

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