Mechanics, hydrodynamics and energetics of blue whale lunge feeding: efficiency dependence on krill density

• Published in: Journal of Experimental Biology
• Main Authors: Goldbogen, J. A., Calambokidis, J., Oleson, E., Potvin, J., Pyenson, Nicholas D., Schorr, G., Shadwick, R. E.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Rorqual; Balaenoptera musculus; baleen whales; Blue whale
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10088/17622; https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.048157

Lunge feeding by rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae) is associated with a high energetic cost that decreases diving capacity, thereby limiting access to dense prey patches at depth. Despite this cost, rorquals exhibit high rates of lipid deposition and extremely large maximum body size. To address this...