Biological Trace Element Research (2020)
There has been increasing concern about trace element accumulation in finless porpoises over the past decades, while the long-term variation of its concentration has been little known. Since most soft…
The evolution of genital shape variation in female cetaceans
Orbach, Dara N.; Hedrick, Brandon; Würsig, Bernd; Mesnick, Sarah L.; Brennan, Patricia L. R.
Evolution (2017)
Male genital diversification is likely the result of sexual selection. Female genital diversification may also result from sexual selection, although it is less well studied and understood. Female genitalia are…
The frequency of solitary behaviours in captive odontocetes is modulated by environmental and social factors
Serres, Agathe; Hao, Yujiang; Wang, Ding
International Journal of Comparative Psychology (2019)
The number of welfare-oriented studies is increasing in animals under human care, including odontocetes. However, validated welfare indicators are lacking for captive odontocetes. We studied the effect of several conditions…
Does interspecific competition drive patterns of habitat use and relative density in harbour porpoises?
Díaz López, Bruno; Methion, Séverine
Marine Biology (2018)
Determining the drivers that are responsible for the fine-scale distribution of cetacean species is fundamental to understand better how they respond to changes in their environment. We utilized information theoretic…
Analysis of the bacterial diversity in the fecal material of the endangered Yangtze finless porpoise, Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis
McLaughlin, Richard William; Chen, Minmin; Zheng, Jinsong; Zhao, Qingzhong; Wang, Ding
Molecular Biology Reports (2011)
The aim of this study was to determine the bacteria present in the fecal material of the endangered Yangtze finless porpoise, Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis. Fecal samples were collected from 12…
Agonistic interactions and dominance relationships in three groups of captive odontocetes: Method of assessment and inter-species/group comparison
Serres, Agathe; Hao, Yujiang; Wang, Ding
Aquatic Mammals (2019)
Social group dynamics are known to impact odontocetes’ health and welfare in captivity. Social dominance and agonistic interactions that occur to establish and maintain these relationships might express themselves differently…
Behavioral responses of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) to U.S. Navy 53C sonar signals in noise
Kastelein, Ronald A.; Ainslie, Michael A.; van Kester, Ruby
Aquatic Mammals (2019)
Naval sonar systems produce signals that may affect the behavior of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), and behavioral responses may be influenced by the received signal and by the signal-to-noise ratio…
Swimming features in captive odontocetes: Indicative of animals’ emotional state?
Serres, Agathe; Hao, Yujiang; Wang, Ding
Behavioural Processes (2020)
Captive welfare studies in odontocete species have been mostly conducted on bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) while the welfare of many other species’ -including endangered species- remains poorly studied. More research…
Juvenile harbor porpoises in the UK are exposed to a more neurotoxic mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls than adults
Williams, Rosie S.; Curnick, David J.; Barber, Jonathan L.; Brownlow, Andrew; Davison, Nicholas J.; Deaville, Rob; Perkins, Matthew; Jobling, Susan; Jepson, Paul D.
Science of The Total Environment (2020)
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of 209 persistent and bio-accumulative toxic pollutants present as complex mixtures in human and animal tissues. Harbor porpoises accumulate some of the highest levels…
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]),…