A review of the ecology and status of white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Svalbard, Norway
The Norwegian Polar Institute initiated a research programme on white whales in 1995 to gather biological information relevant for the species’ management; the results of which are reviewed herein. Satellite tracking from two periods (1995–2001 and 2013–16), between which sea ice diminished markedly...
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Norwegian Polar Institute
2021
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:85dcc575ba8244c9aa749576fd7e5548 2023-05-15T15:41:54+02:00 A review of the ecology and status of white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Svalbard, Norway Christian Lydersen Kit M. Kovacs 2021-07-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.33265/polar.v40.5509 https://doaj.org/article/85dcc575ba8244c9aa749576fd7e5548 EN eng Norwegian Polar Institute https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/5509/13725 https://doaj.org/toc/0800-0395 https://doaj.org/toc/1751-8369 0800-0395 1751-8369 doi:10.33265/polar.v40.5509 https://doaj.org/article/85dcc575ba8244c9aa749576fd7e5548 Polar Research, Vol 40, Pp 1-12 (2021) abundance beluga climate change genetics tracking pollution Environmental sciences GE1-350 Oceanography GC1-1581 article 2021 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.33265/polar.v40.5509 2022-12-31T04:45:13Z The Norwegian Polar Institute initiated a research programme on white whales in 1995 to gather biological information relevant for the species’ management; the results of which are reviewed herein. Satellite tracking from two periods (1995–2001 and 2013–16), between which sea ice diminished markedly, showed that the whales in waters off the archipelago of Svalbard spent most of their time foraging close to tidewater glaciers. Transits between glaciers typically followed the coastline, with the whales moving rapidly from one glacier to another. During the later period, the whales spent some time out in the fjords, suggesting that they might be targeting prey in the Atlantic Water masses that now prevail in Svalbard’s west-coast fjords. Most of their dives were extremely shallow (13 ± 26 m; maximum 350 m) and of short duration (97 ± 123 s; maximum 31.4 min). Fatty-acid analyses indicated that polar cod (Boreogadus saida) was the main prey during the first sampling period. An aerial survey in 2018 estimated the population numbered 549 (CI: 436–723) animals. Svalbard white whales are genetically separate from populations off west Greenland and in the White Sea. Predation by killer whales appears to have influenced white whale behaviour in Svalbard; they are often silent, despite having a normal vocal repertoire for the species and their coastal movements take place in very shallow water. This population has extremely high contaminant levels. Climate change poses a threat to this small population of white whales. Article in Journal/Newspaper Beluga Beluga* Boreogadus saida Delphinapterus leucas glacier glacier glacier Greenland Norwegian Polar Institute polar cod Polar Research Sea ice Svalbard Tidewater White Sea White whale Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Svalbard White Sea Greenland Norway Polar Research 40 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
abundance beluga climate change genetics tracking pollution Environmental sciences GE1-350 Oceanography GC1-1581 |
spellingShingle |
abundance beluga climate change genetics tracking pollution Environmental sciences GE1-350 Oceanography GC1-1581 Christian Lydersen Kit M. Kovacs A review of the ecology and status of white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Svalbard, Norway |
topic_facet |
abundance beluga climate change genetics tracking pollution Environmental sciences GE1-350 Oceanography GC1-1581 |
description |
The Norwegian Polar Institute initiated a research programme on white whales in 1995 to gather biological information relevant for the species’ management; the results of which are reviewed herein. Satellite tracking from two periods (1995–2001 and 2013–16), between which sea ice diminished markedly, showed that the whales in waters off the archipelago of Svalbard spent most of their time foraging close to tidewater glaciers. Transits between glaciers typically followed the coastline, with the whales moving rapidly from one glacier to another. During the later period, the whales spent some time out in the fjords, suggesting that they might be targeting prey in the Atlantic Water masses that now prevail in Svalbard’s west-coast fjords. Most of their dives were extremely shallow (13 ± 26 m; maximum 350 m) and of short duration (97 ± 123 s; maximum 31.4 min). Fatty-acid analyses indicated that polar cod (Boreogadus saida) was the main prey during the first sampling period. An aerial survey in 2018 estimated the population numbered 549 (CI: 436–723) animals. Svalbard white whales are genetically separate from populations off west Greenland and in the White Sea. Predation by killer whales appears to have influenced white whale behaviour in Svalbard; they are often silent, despite having a normal vocal repertoire for the species and their coastal movements take place in very shallow water. This population has extremely high contaminant levels. Climate change poses a threat to this small population of white whales. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Christian Lydersen Kit M. Kovacs |
author_facet |
Christian Lydersen Kit M. Kovacs |
author_sort |
Christian Lydersen |
title |
A review of the ecology and status of white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Svalbard, Norway |
title_short |
A review of the ecology and status of white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Svalbard, Norway |
title_full |
A review of the ecology and status of white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Svalbard, Norway |
title_fullStr |
A review of the ecology and status of white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Svalbard, Norway |
title_full_unstemmed |
A review of the ecology and status of white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Svalbard, Norway |
title_sort |
review of the ecology and status of white whales (delphinapterus leucas) in svalbard, norway |
publisher |
Norwegian Polar Institute |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.33265/polar.v40.5509 https://doaj.org/article/85dcc575ba8244c9aa749576fd7e5548 |
geographic |
Svalbard White Sea Greenland Norway |
geographic_facet |
Svalbard White Sea Greenland Norway |
genre |
Beluga Beluga* Boreogadus saida Delphinapterus leucas glacier glacier glacier Greenland Norwegian Polar Institute polar cod Polar Research Sea ice Svalbard Tidewater White Sea White whale |
genre_facet |
Beluga Beluga* Boreogadus saida Delphinapterus leucas glacier glacier glacier Greenland Norwegian Polar Institute polar cod Polar Research Sea ice Svalbard Tidewater White Sea White whale |
op_source |
Polar Research, Vol 40, Pp 1-12 (2021) |
op_relation |
https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/5509/13725 https://doaj.org/toc/0800-0395 https://doaj.org/toc/1751-8369 0800-0395 1751-8369 doi:10.33265/polar.v40.5509 https://doaj.org/article/85dcc575ba8244c9aa749576fd7e5548 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.33265/polar.v40.5509 |
container_title |
Polar Research |
container_volume |
40 |
_version_ |
1766374775676993536 |