When Ships Pass, Whales Eat Less: Study
Sumaira FH Published August 10, 2016 | 09:05 PM
PARIS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th August, 2016) - Noise from ships impedes humpback whales from foraging for food, and could have long-term impacts on the health of these majestic creatures, according to a study released Wednesday. Shipping lanes overlapping with the coastal migratory paths of whales create a steady source of underwater noise pollution. Earlier research has shown how this can interfere with the behaviour of so-called toothed whales -- a category that included dolphins, as well as killer and sperm whales -- that emit sonar-like pings to locate prey and communicate. But very little was known about how the constant, low-frequency drone of ocean vessels might affect baleen whales, the other major category. These include blue, humpback, right and bowhead whales. To find out, a team of scientists led by Hannah Blair of Syracuse University in New York attached non-intrusive sensors to 10 humpbacks in the western North Atlantic.
The devices not only picked up and recorded all the sounds heard by the whales, but also tracked their underwater movement. Humpbacks have a wide array of foraging techniques used to consume a large number of small prey, including one manoeuvre scientists call the "bottom side-roll".
To feed on sand lance -- bottom-dwelling eel-like fish -- "the whale dives and scrapes along the ocean floor," explained Blair. A humpback can deep-dive for up to 30 minutes. "At the same time, it rolls regularly onto its side and opens its mouth, scooping up the fish hidden in the sand," especially at night, she told AFP.
Every barrel roll is like a meal. The study found that half of the whales -- all of them adult females -- failed to execute these important side-rolls in the presence of ship noise on at least one of their deep dives. Researchers can only speculate as to why. The humpback may have perceived the ships as a threat.
It is also possible, they said, that the prey reacted to the noise too, scattering or digging more deeply into the sand. Humpbacks have been dealing with chronic noise from ships for decades, and have shown some capacity to adapt. The new findings, however, "suggest that the whales are unable to completely adjust to this disturbance," the study concluded. The paper appears in Biology Letters, a journal published by Britain's de-facto academy of sciences, the Royal Society.
Recent Stories
TECNO launches the new CAMON 30 Series in an extravagant Vogue Night.
Pakistan urges Int’l community to hold India accountable for espionage in fore ..
PAF always lived up to nation’s expectations: COAS
Pak Navy and Us Navy Conduct Bilateral Exercise Inspired Union 2024
Dubai Customs Clinches Two Prestigious Global Awards for Governance Excellence
Vivo Launched Y100 Smartphone in Pakistan with Unique Color Changing Design and ..
Pakistan name 18-player squad for Ireland and England
Joint exercise of Pakistan Navy, US Navy held in Karachi
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 2 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 02 May 2024
Dubai Police Marks International Workers' Day with 'Talabat' Riders
Sharjah Ruler inaugurates 15th annual Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival
More Stories From World
-
Russia says captured another village in Ukraine's east
3 minutes ago -
Maersk's net profit sinks amid Red Sea attacks
13 minutes ago -
Police and protesters face-off at UCLA in campus unrest over Gaza
13 minutes ago -
EU pledges $1 bn for Lebanon, urges steps against illegal migration
23 minutes ago -
Macron doesn't rule out troops for Ukraine if Russia breaks front lines
23 minutes ago -
Tokyo shares open lower, yen jumps
23 minutes ago
-
New 'underground cathedral' opens ahead of Paris Olympics
33 minutes ago -
Japan Airlines net profit increases 2.8-fold in FY 2023
1 hour ago -
Microsoft announces $2.2 bn AI, cloud investment in Malaysia
1 hour ago -
Microsoft announces $2.2 bn AI, cloud investment in Malaysia
1 hour ago -
EU announces $1 bn in aid for Lebanon to shore up economy
1 hour ago -
China's paper-making industry sees steady growth in first two months
1 hour ago