Return of large fin whale feeding aggregations to historical whaling grounds in the Southern Ocean
Abstract Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus quoyi) of the Southern Hemisphere were brought to near extinction by twentieth century industrial whaling. For decades, they had all but disappeared from previously highly frequented feeding grounds in Antarctic waters. Our dedicated surveys now confirm the...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13798-7 https://doaj.org/article/1e75a69e739748839823d1696bdd18c3 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:1e75a69e739748839823d1696bdd18c3 2023-05-15T13:44:25+02:00 Return of large fin whale feeding aggregations to historical whaling grounds in the Southern Ocean Helena Herr Sacha Viquerat Fredi Devas Abigail Lees Lucy Wells Bertie Gregory Ted Giffords Dan Beecham Bettina Meyer 2022-07-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13798-7 https://doaj.org/article/1e75a69e739748839823d1696bdd18c3 EN eng Nature Portfolio https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13798-7 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322 doi:10.1038/s41598-022-13798-7 2045-2322 https://doaj.org/article/1e75a69e739748839823d1696bdd18c3 Scientific Reports, Vol 12, Iss 1, Pp 1-15 (2022) Medicine R Science Q article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13798-7 2022-12-31T00:44:58Z Abstract Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus quoyi) of the Southern Hemisphere were brought to near extinction by twentieth century industrial whaling. For decades, they had all but disappeared from previously highly frequented feeding grounds in Antarctic waters. Our dedicated surveys now confirm their return to ancestral feeding grounds, gathering at the Antarctic Peninsula in large aggregations to feed. We report on the results of an abundance survey and present the first scientific documentation of large fin whale feeding aggregations at Elephant Island, Antarctica, including the first ever video documentation. We interpret high densities, re-establishment of historical behaviours and the return to ancestral feeding grounds as signs for a recovering population. Recovery of a large whale population has the potential to augment primary productivity at their feeding grounds through the effects of nutrient recycling, known as 'the whale pump'. The recovery of fin whales in that area could thus restore ecosystem functions crucial for atmospheric carbon regulation in the world's most important ocean region for the uptake of anthropogenic CO2. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctica Balaenoptera physalus Elephant Island Fin whale Southern Ocean Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Antarctic Southern Ocean The Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Elephant Island ENVELOPE(-55.184,-55.184,-61.085,-61.085) Scientific Reports 12 1 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Medicine R Science Q |
spellingShingle |
Medicine R Science Q Helena Herr Sacha Viquerat Fredi Devas Abigail Lees Lucy Wells Bertie Gregory Ted Giffords Dan Beecham Bettina Meyer Return of large fin whale feeding aggregations to historical whaling grounds in the Southern Ocean |
topic_facet |
Medicine R Science Q |
description |
Abstract Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus quoyi) of the Southern Hemisphere were brought to near extinction by twentieth century industrial whaling. For decades, they had all but disappeared from previously highly frequented feeding grounds in Antarctic waters. Our dedicated surveys now confirm their return to ancestral feeding grounds, gathering at the Antarctic Peninsula in large aggregations to feed. We report on the results of an abundance survey and present the first scientific documentation of large fin whale feeding aggregations at Elephant Island, Antarctica, including the first ever video documentation. We interpret high densities, re-establishment of historical behaviours and the return to ancestral feeding grounds as signs for a recovering population. Recovery of a large whale population has the potential to augment primary productivity at their feeding grounds through the effects of nutrient recycling, known as 'the whale pump'. The recovery of fin whales in that area could thus restore ecosystem functions crucial for atmospheric carbon regulation in the world's most important ocean region for the uptake of anthropogenic CO2. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Helena Herr Sacha Viquerat Fredi Devas Abigail Lees Lucy Wells Bertie Gregory Ted Giffords Dan Beecham Bettina Meyer |
author_facet |
Helena Herr Sacha Viquerat Fredi Devas Abigail Lees Lucy Wells Bertie Gregory Ted Giffords Dan Beecham Bettina Meyer |
author_sort |
Helena Herr |
title |
Return of large fin whale feeding aggregations to historical whaling grounds in the Southern Ocean |
title_short |
Return of large fin whale feeding aggregations to historical whaling grounds in the Southern Ocean |
title_full |
Return of large fin whale feeding aggregations to historical whaling grounds in the Southern Ocean |
title_fullStr |
Return of large fin whale feeding aggregations to historical whaling grounds in the Southern Ocean |
title_full_unstemmed |
Return of large fin whale feeding aggregations to historical whaling grounds in the Southern Ocean |
title_sort |
return of large fin whale feeding aggregations to historical whaling grounds in the southern ocean |
publisher |
Nature Portfolio |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13798-7 https://doaj.org/article/1e75a69e739748839823d1696bdd18c3 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-55.184,-55.184,-61.085,-61.085) |
geographic |
Antarctic Southern Ocean The Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Elephant Island |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Southern Ocean The Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Elephant Island |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctica Balaenoptera physalus Elephant Island Fin whale Southern Ocean |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctica Balaenoptera physalus Elephant Island Fin whale Southern Ocean |
op_source |
Scientific Reports, Vol 12, Iss 1, Pp 1-15 (2022) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13798-7 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322 doi:10.1038/s41598-022-13798-7 2045-2322 https://doaj.org/article/1e75a69e739748839823d1696bdd18c3 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13798-7 |
container_title |
Scientific Reports |
container_volume |
12 |
container_issue |
1 |
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1766201418528587776 |