Feeding in Marine Mammals

Werth, Alexander

doi:10.1016/b978-012632590-4/50017-4

Cited by 169 publications

(244 citation statements)

References 88 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

223

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Werth noted that food items were captured by means of laterally directed suction in rehabilitating pilot whales (Werth, 2000a). Futhermore, in the wild pilot whales primarily consume squid (Gannon et al, 1997b;Gannon et al, 1997a), and teuthophagy in odontocetes is presumed to be related to suction feeding behavior (Werth, 2000b). It is possible that if pressure measurements had been collected at the lateral sides of the mouth, this study might have measured greater subambient pressures.…”

Section: Pilot Whalesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative feeding kinematics and performance of odontocetes: belugas, Pacific white-sided dolphins and long-finned pilot whales

Kane

Marshall

2009

Journal of Experimental Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SUMMARYCetaceans are thought to display a diversity of feeding modes that are often described as convergent with other more basal aquatic vertebrates (i.e. actinopterygians). However, the biomechanics of feeding in cetaceans has been relatively ignored by functional biologists. This study investigated the feeding behavior, kinematics and pressure generation of three odontocetes with varying feeding modes (belugas, Delphinapterus leucas; Pacific white-sided dolphins, Lagenorhynchus obliquidens; and longfinned pilot whales, Globicephala melas). Four feeding phases were recognized in all odontocetes: (I) preparatory, (II) jaw opening, (III) gular depression, and (IV) jaw closing. Belugas relied on a feeding mode that was composed of discrete ram and suction components. Pacific white-sided dolphins fed using ram, with some suction for compensation or manipulation of prey. Pilot whales were kinematically similar to belugas but relied on a combination of ram and suction that was less discrete than belugas. Belugas were able to purse the anterior lips to occlude lateral gape and form a small, circular anterior aperture that is convergent with feeding behaviors observed in more basal vertebrates. Suction generation in odontocetes is a function of hyolingual displacement and rapid jaw opening, and is likely to be significantly enhanced by lip pursing behaviors. Some degree of subambient pressure was measured in all species, with belugas reaching 126kPa. Functional variations of suction generation during feeding demonstrate a wider diversity of feeding behaviors in odontocetes than previously thought. However, odontocete suction generation is convergent with that of more basal aquatic vertebrates.

show abstract

Section: Pilot Whalesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative feeding kinematics and performance of odontocetes: belugas, Pacific white-sided dolphins and long-finned pilot whales

Kane

Marshall

2009

Journal of Experimental Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Like their terrestrial ancestors, otters use their forelimbs to grapple with prey (figure 2a) [26]. By contrast, cetaceans and pinnipeds capture food with their jaws, usually via rapid movements of the head (snapping) and/or body (ram feeding) [1]. Whether animals are snappers depends directly on the structure and flexibility of the neck, with pinnipeds generally being considerably more mobile than cetaceans in this regard [27].…”

Section: The Aquatic Mammal Feeding Cyclementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Key to these complex ecosystem functions is the diverse behavioural repertoire aquatic mammals use to capture and consume prey, which is usually classified into three distinct groups: raptorial, suction and filter feeding [1]. Raptorial feeders (also known as 'pierce' or 'bite' feeders) are thought to use & 2017 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finally, filter feeders (e.g. mysticete whales and crabeater seals, Lobodon carcinophaga) are species that use a specialized structure to filter small prey from seawater in bulk [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Predatory aquatic mammals-i.e. otters and all marine mammals except sea cows-have infiltrated aquatic ecosystems ranging from the poles to the Equator, and from freshwater and coastal environments to the deep sea [1,2]. Across this diverse range of habitats, they act as consumers at almost every trophic level, from top predators [3,4] to planktivores [5,6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A behavioural framework for the evolution of feeding in predatory aquatic mammals

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Extant aquatic mammals are a key component of aquatic ecosystems. Their morphology, ecological role and behaviour are, to a large extent, shaped by their feeding ecology. Nevertheless, the nature of this crucial aspect of their biology is often oversimplified and, consequently, misinterpreted. Here, we introduce a new framework that categorizes the feeding cycle of predatory aquatic mammals into four distinct functional stages ( prey capture, manipulation and processing, water removal and swallowing), and details the feeding behaviours that can be employed at each stage. Based on this comprehensive scheme, we propose that the feeding strategies of living aquatic mammals form an evolutionary sequence that recalls the land-to-water transition of their ancestors. Our new conception helps to explain and predict the origin of particular feeding styles, such as baleen-assisted filter feeding in whales and raptorial 'pierce' feeding in pinnipeds, and informs the structure of present and past ecosystems.

show abstract