Marine Mammal Science (2017)
Lactation plays a vital role in reproductive success, evolving with ecological adaptations of mammalian life histories. Knowledge of the lactation process in odontocetes is scarce and limited to a handful…
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…
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 sex life of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena): Lateralized and aerial behavior
Keener, William; Webber, Marc A.; Szczepaniak, Isidore D.; Markowitz, Tim M.; Orbach, Dara N.
Aquatic Mammals (2018)
The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco Bay provides a non-invasive aerial platform where harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) can be observed mating. We photographed 144 mating events over an eight-year…
The metabolic cost of swimming and reproduction in harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) as predicted by a bioenergetic model
Gallagher, Cara A.; Stern, S. Jonathan; Hines, Ellen
Marine Mammal Science (2018)
While harbor porpoises currently enter San Francisco Bay year‐round, evidence suggests a disappearance that spanned approximately 65 yr. The range of energetic costs of basal metabolism, locomotion, thermoregulation, and reproduction…
Characterization of milk protein composition of the Yangtze finless porpoise
Zeng, Xianyuan; Chen, Minmin; Liu, Zhigang; Yu, Daoping; Huang, Shiang-Lin; Yang, Jiwei; Fan, Fei; Wang, Ding; Hao, Yujiang; Nabi, Ghulam
Marine Mammal Science (2018)
...Milk protein composition likely varies between lactation stages in the finless porpoise (Zeng et al. 2017). Zeng et al. (2017) indicate that crude protein concentration is much higher in colostrum…
Basin-scale distribution of harbour porpoises in the Baltic Sea provides basis for effective conservation actions
Carlén, Ida; Thomas, Len; Carlström, Julia; Amundin, Mats; Teilmann, Jonas; Tregenza, Nick; Tougaard, Jakob; Koblitz, Jens C.; Sveegaard, Signe; Wennerberg, Daniel; Loisa, Olli; Dähne, Michael; Brundiers, Katharina; Kosecka, Monika; Kyhn, Line Anker; Ljungqvist, Cinthia Tiberi; Pawliczka, Iwona; Koza, Radomil; Arciszewski, Bartlomiej; Galatius, Anders; Jabbusch, Martin; Laaksonlaita, Jussi; Niemi, Jussi; Lyytinen, Sami; Gallus, Anja; Benke, Harald; Blankett, Penina; Skóra, Krzysztof E.; Acevedo-Gutiérrez, Alejandro
Biological Conservation (2018)
Knowledge on spatial and seasonal distribution of species is crucial when designing protected areas and implementing management actions. The Baltic Proper harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) population is critically endangered, and…
About stranding and accidentally caught cetaceans in the Black Sea: Death reasons, feeding characteristics and pregnancy status
Bilgin, Sabri; Onay, Hatice; Köse, Ozay; Yeşilçiçek, Tuncay
Türk Tarım ve Doğa Bilimleri Dergisi (2018)
This study was carried out to determine stranding levels, dead reasons and some reproduction features and diet of the Black Sea’ cetacean species (harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena and common dolphin,…
Position at birth and possible effects on calf survival in finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis)
Deng, Xiaojun; Hao, Yujiang; Serres, Agathe; Wang, Kexiong; Wang, Ding
Aquatic Mammals (2019)
Odontocetes are usually reported giving birth to calves in breech position (fluke-first). Cephalic position (head-first) is less frequently observed and, therefore, is considered to be abnormal for the parturition. However,…
Testicular morphology and spermatogenesis in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)
Kesselring, T.; Viquerat, S.; IJsseldijk, L. L.; Langeheine, M.; Wohlsein, P.; Gröne, A.; Bergmann, M.; Siebert, U.; Brehm, R.
Theriogenology (2019)
Knowledge about reproductive parameters in male harbour porpoises such as testicular histology and germ cell maturation as well as seasonal changes in spermatogenesis is scarce. Thus, the aim of the…