Journal of Comparative Physiology A (2017)
Hearing is the primary sensory modality for toothed whales, but it is not known at which age it is fully developed. For newborn calves, hearing could fill an important function…
Comparative physiology of vocal musculature in two odontocetes, the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)
Thometz, Nicole M.; Dearolf, Jennifer L.; Dunkin, Robin C.; Noren, Dawn P.; Holt, Marla M.; Sims, Olivia C.; Cathey, Brandon C.; Williams, Terrie M.
Journal of Comparative Physiology B (2017)
The mechanism by which odontocetes produce sound is unique among mammals. To gain insight into the physiological properties that support sound production in toothed whales, we examined myoglobin content ([Mb]),…
Where is the risk? Integrating a spatial distribution model and a risk assessment to identify areas of cetacean interaction with fisheries in the northeast Atlantic
Breen, Patricia; Brown, Susie; Reid, David; Rogan, Emer
Ocean & Coastal Management (2017)
Throughout their range, marine mammals are vulnerable to incidental capture in fishing gear. Bycatch is a particularly important issue for cetaceans, which generally have lower potential rates of population growth…
Resilience of harbor porpoises to anthropogenic disturbance: Must they really feed continuously?
Hoekendijk, Jeroen P. A.; Spitz, Jerome; Read, Andrew J.; Leopold, Mardik F.; Fontaine, Michael C.
Marine Mammal Science (2017)
...Recently, Wisniewska et al. (2016) used high-resolution digital acoustic tags (DTAGs) to monitor the foraging behavior of five harbor porpoises in Danish waters. This approach provided detailed observations on the…
Patterns of cetacean vaginal folds yield insights into functionality
Orbach, Dara N.; Marshall, Christopher D.; Mesnick, Sarah L.; Würsig, Bernd
PLOS ONE (2017)
Complex foldings of the vaginal wall are unique to some cetaceans and artiodactyls and are of unknown function(s). The patterns of vaginal length and cumulative vaginal fold length were assessed…
Listening to echolocation clicks with PODs
Tregenza, Nick; Dawson, Steve; Rayment, Will; Verfuss, Ursula
Modern Acoustics and Signal Processing (2016)
Monitoring echolocation using SAMs—static acoustic monitors—such as T-PODs or, more recently, C-PODs—has provided a wealth of information on the fine-scale distribution and activity of dolphins, porpoises and other toothed whales.…
Effect of construction-related activities and vessel traffic on marine mammals
Culloch, R. M.; Anderwald, P.; Brandecker, A.; Haberlin, D.; McGovern, B.; Pinfield, R.; Visser, F.; Jessopp, M.; Cronin, M.
Marine Ecology Progress Series (2016)
During the construction of a gas pipeline from an offshore gas field in northwest Ireland, a year-round shore-based marine mammal monitoring programme was undertaken. Using 6 yr of data, generalised…
Cognitive control of heart rate in diving harbor porpoises
Elmegaard, Siri L.; Johnson, Mark; Madsen, Peter T.; McDonald, Birgitte I.
Current Biology (2016)
Marine mammals have adapted to forage while holding their breath in a suite of aquatic habitats from shallow rivers to deep oceans. The key to tolerate such extensive apnea is…
Reversible bending of the dorsal fins of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and a striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) in captivity
Kastelein, Ronald A.; Triesscheijn, Rob J. V.; Jennings, Nancy
Aquatic Mammals (2016)
The dorsal fin of odontocetes has, among other roles, hydrodynamic and thermoregulatory functions. In captivity, the dorsal fin sometimes bends laterally. Bending of the dorsal fin was described in 13…
Diel and seasonal patterns in acoustic presence and foraging behaviour of free-ranging harbour porpoises
Schaffeld, T.; Bräger, S.; Gallus, A.; Dähne, M.; Krügel, K.; Herrmann, A.; Jabbusch, M.; Ruf, T.; Verfuß, U. K.; Benke, H.; Koblitz, J. C.
Marine Ecology Progress Series (2016)
A temporal and geographical analysis of echolocation activity can give insights into the behaviour of free-ranging harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena. Seasonal and diel patterns in the presence and foraging activity…