By analyzing the composition of their skin, scientists were able to find out where southern right whales feed. This has been reported by Macquarie University, Australia.
Robert Harcourt and colleagues measured the ratio of various carbon and nitrogen isotopes in 1,002 skin samples taken from animals between 1994 and 2020. The inhabitants of each region of the sea are characterized by their isotope ratio, and when the whale eats them, they pass into its body, including through the skin. The isotopic signature can be traced for at least six months, so scientists can determine exactly where the animals have been in the past six months.
“Despite their large size, whales can be very difficult to track,” says Professor Harcourt. “Using this technique, we were able to map where southern right whales were traveling in the Southern Ocean.”
The study shows that whale feeding areas have changed over the years, reflecting changes in whale hunting habitats. These changes appear to have occurred recently and are due to climate change. During the study period, southern right whales in the South Atlantic Ocean and southwestern Indian Ocean became less likely to enter Antarctic waters, possibly due to fewer krill.
However, in the Southwest Pacific, whales continue to head south at certain times of the year, suggesting that krill are still abundant there.
This study provides insight into how large cetaceans are responding to climate change and what measures should be taken to protect their populations.
Formerly in the Perm Territory discovered An ancient pollen-covered insect fossil.