Occurrence of sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in the Russian Arctic
We report two sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) strandings observed in the south-east corner of the Barents Sea (i.e., Pechora Sea) in 2018, unusually far from the species’ hitherto known distribution. While compiling a comprehensive overview of the occurrence of sperm whale sightings and strandi...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Norwegian Polar Institute
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Polar Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/4583/12476 |
| _version_ | 1818788460823052288 |
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| author | Igor Popov Götz Eichhorn |
| author_facet | Igor Popov Götz Eichhorn |
| author_sort | Igor Popov |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We report two sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) strandings observed in the south-east corner of the Barents Sea (i.e., Pechora Sea) in 2018, unusually far from the species’ hitherto known distribution. While compiling a comprehensive overview of the occurrence of sperm whale sightings and strandings in the Russian Arctic, we learnt about one further stranding in the Pechora Sea, observed in 2017. All other records were from sites considerably closer to the species’ usual distribution. Reports from the eastern Russian Arctic suggest that sperm whales rarely, if ever, entered the Arctic from the Pacific Ocean. Although observed occurrences in the Russian Barents Sea have been few and sporadic, the occurrence of sperm whales in its south-eastern section appears to be a recent phenomenon, which is possibly related to declining sea-ice cover. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T14:24:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0ccacdfcf4544746a5a60c3745221696 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1751-8369 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T14:24:02Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Norwegian Polar Institute |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polar Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-0ccacdfcf4544746a5a60c37452216962022-12-21T21:04:46ZengNorwegian Polar InstitutePolar Research1751-83692020-12-013901610.33265/polar.v39.45834583Occurrence of sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in the Russian ArcticIgor Popov0Götz Eichhorn1Department of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Saint-Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, RussiaVogeltrekstation—Dutch Centre for Avian Migration and Demography, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Wageningen, The NetherlandsWe report two sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) strandings observed in the south-east corner of the Barents Sea (i.e., Pechora Sea) in 2018, unusually far from the species’ hitherto known distribution. While compiling a comprehensive overview of the occurrence of sperm whale sightings and strandings in the Russian Arctic, we learnt about one further stranding in the Pechora Sea, observed in 2017. All other records were from sites considerably closer to the species’ usual distribution. Reports from the eastern Russian Arctic suggest that sperm whales rarely, if ever, entered the Arctic from the Pacific Ocean. Although observed occurrences in the Russian Barents Sea have been few and sporadic, the occurrence of sperm whales in its south-eastern section appears to be a recent phenomenon, which is possibly related to declining sea-ice cover.https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/4583/12476marine mammalsclimate changerange expansionstrandingdistributionbarents sea |
| spellingShingle | Igor Popov Götz Eichhorn Occurrence of sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in the Russian Arctic Polar Research marine mammals climate change range expansion stranding distribution barents sea |
| title | Occurrence of sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in the Russian Arctic |
| title_full | Occurrence of sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in the Russian Arctic |
| title_fullStr | Occurrence of sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in the Russian Arctic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Occurrence of sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in the Russian Arctic |
| title_short | Occurrence of sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in the Russian Arctic |
| title_sort | occurrence of sperm whale physeter macrocephalus in the russian arctic |
| topic | marine mammals climate change range expansion stranding distribution barents sea |
| url | https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/4583/12476 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT igorpopov occurrenceofspermwhalephysetermacrocephalusintherussianarctic AT gotzeichhorn occurrenceofspermwhalephysetermacrocephalusintherussianarctic |