Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) scavenge offal from minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) whaling operations in Svalbard (Norway)
Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) tissue (mainly blubber) was found in the gastrointestinal tracks of Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) collected in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, Norway. In order to determine whether the sharks were actively hunting the whales, finding naturally dead whale...
Published in: | Polar Research |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Norwegian Polar Institute
2011
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v30i0.7342 https://doaj.org/article/33b389985e694f4c941d7ee046f931d3 |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:33b389985e694f4c941d7ee046f931d3 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:33b389985e694f4c941d7ee046f931d3 2023-05-15T15:36:05+02:00 Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) scavenge offal from minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) whaling operations in Svalbard (Norway) Lisa-Marie Leclerc Christian Lydersen Tore Haug Kevin A. Glover Aaron T. Fisk Kit M. Kovacs 2011-06-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v30i0.7342 https://doaj.org/article/33b389985e694f4c941d7ee046f931d3 EN eng Norwegian Polar Institute http://www.polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/7342/pdf_199 https://doaj.org/toc/0800-0395 https://doaj.org/toc/1751-8369 doi:10.3402/polar.v30i0.7342 0800-0395 1751-8369 https://doaj.org/article/33b389985e694f4c941d7ee046f931d3 Polar Research, Vol 30, Iss 0, Pp 1-4 (2011) arrion diet DNA register Greenland shark minke whale Environmental sciences GE1-350 Oceanography GC1-1581 article 2011 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v30i0.7342 2022-12-31T08:07:20Z Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) tissue (mainly blubber) was found in the gastrointestinal tracks of Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) collected in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, Norway. In order to determine whether the sharks were actively hunting the whales, finding naturally dead whales or consuming offal from whaling, we checked the genetic identity of the whale tissue found in the sharks against the DNA register for minke whales taken in Norwegian whaling operations. All of the minke whale samples from the sharks that had DNA of sufficient quality to perform individual identifications were traceable to the whaling DNA register. During whaling operations, the blubber is stripped from the carcass and thrown overboard. The blubber strips float on the surface and are available for surface-feeding predators. This study revealed that Greenland sharks are scavenging this material; additionally, it demonstrates the capacity of this ‘benthic-feeding’ shark to utilize the whole water column for foraging. Article in Journal/Newspaper Balaenoptera acutorostrata Greenland Kongsfjord* Kongsfjorden minke whale Polar Research Somniosus microcephalus Svalbard Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Svalbard Greenland Norway Polar Research 30 1 7342 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
arrion diet DNA register Greenland shark minke whale Environmental sciences GE1-350 Oceanography GC1-1581 |
spellingShingle |
arrion diet DNA register Greenland shark minke whale Environmental sciences GE1-350 Oceanography GC1-1581 Lisa-Marie Leclerc Christian Lydersen Tore Haug Kevin A. Glover Aaron T. Fisk Kit M. Kovacs Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) scavenge offal from minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) whaling operations in Svalbard (Norway) |
topic_facet |
arrion diet DNA register Greenland shark minke whale Environmental sciences GE1-350 Oceanography GC1-1581 |
description |
Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) tissue (mainly blubber) was found in the gastrointestinal tracks of Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) collected in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, Norway. In order to determine whether the sharks were actively hunting the whales, finding naturally dead whales or consuming offal from whaling, we checked the genetic identity of the whale tissue found in the sharks against the DNA register for minke whales taken in Norwegian whaling operations. All of the minke whale samples from the sharks that had DNA of sufficient quality to perform individual identifications were traceable to the whaling DNA register. During whaling operations, the blubber is stripped from the carcass and thrown overboard. The blubber strips float on the surface and are available for surface-feeding predators. This study revealed that Greenland sharks are scavenging this material; additionally, it demonstrates the capacity of this ‘benthic-feeding’ shark to utilize the whole water column for foraging. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lisa-Marie Leclerc Christian Lydersen Tore Haug Kevin A. Glover Aaron T. Fisk Kit M. Kovacs |
author_facet |
Lisa-Marie Leclerc Christian Lydersen Tore Haug Kevin A. Glover Aaron T. Fisk Kit M. Kovacs |
author_sort |
Lisa-Marie Leclerc |
title |
Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) scavenge offal from minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) whaling operations in Svalbard (Norway) |
title_short |
Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) scavenge offal from minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) whaling operations in Svalbard (Norway) |
title_full |
Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) scavenge offal from minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) whaling operations in Svalbard (Norway) |
title_fullStr |
Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) scavenge offal from minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) whaling operations in Svalbard (Norway) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) scavenge offal from minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) whaling operations in Svalbard (Norway) |
title_sort |
greenland sharks (somniosus microcephalus) scavenge offal from minke (balaenoptera acutorostrata) whaling operations in svalbard (norway) |
publisher |
Norwegian Polar Institute |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v30i0.7342 https://doaj.org/article/33b389985e694f4c941d7ee046f931d3 |
geographic |
Svalbard Greenland Norway |
geographic_facet |
Svalbard Greenland Norway |
genre |
Balaenoptera acutorostrata Greenland Kongsfjord* Kongsfjorden minke whale Polar Research Somniosus microcephalus Svalbard |
genre_facet |
Balaenoptera acutorostrata Greenland Kongsfjord* Kongsfjorden minke whale Polar Research Somniosus microcephalus Svalbard |
op_source |
Polar Research, Vol 30, Iss 0, Pp 1-4 (2011) |
op_relation |
http://www.polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/7342/pdf_199 https://doaj.org/toc/0800-0395 https://doaj.org/toc/1751-8369 doi:10.3402/polar.v30i0.7342 0800-0395 1751-8369 https://doaj.org/article/33b389985e694f4c941d7ee046f931d3 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v30i0.7342 |
container_title |
Polar Research |
container_volume |
30 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
7342 |
_version_ |
1766366420926464000 |