Exfoliating Whales–Sandy Bottom Contact Behaviour of Humpback Whales
Cetaceans are known for their intelligence and display of complex behaviours including object use. For example, bowhead whales (<i>Balaena mysticetus</i>) are known to rub on rocks and some humpback whale (<i>Megaptera novaeangliae</i>) populations undertake lateral bottom fe...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/11/3/600 |
| _version_ | 1827749265493983232 |
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| author | Jan-Olaf Meynecke Johan Gustafon David E. Cade |
| author_facet | Jan-Olaf Meynecke Johan Gustafon David E. Cade |
| author_sort | Jan-Olaf Meynecke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cetaceans are known for their intelligence and display of complex behaviours including object use. For example, bowhead whales (<i>Balaena mysticetus</i>) are known to rub on rocks and some humpback whale (<i>Megaptera novaeangliae</i>) populations undertake lateral bottom feeding. Such underwater behaviour is difficult to observe but can play a critical role in the whales’ survival and well-being. Distinguishing social behaviours from those which serve a specific function remains challenging due to a lack of direct observations and detailed descriptions of such behaviours. A CATS (Customized Animal Tracking Solutions) suction cup tag with on board video and a 3D inertial measurement unit was deployed on three different humpback whales to assess their behaviour in the Gold Coast bay, Australia. Here, we present evidence of humpback whales (tagged and untagged individuals) performing bottom contact with prolonged rolling on sandy substrate. In addition, we showed that fish were actively feeding from the whales’ skin during this behaviour. We detail the behaviour and discuss possible drivers, with a focus on cetacean innovation, possible ectoparasite removal, and habitat preferences. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:20:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a86523e38f9c47649c716921f211c1d7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:20:23Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-a86523e38f9c47649c716921f211c1d72023-11-17T11:57:52ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122023-03-0111360010.3390/jmse11030600Exfoliating Whales–Sandy Bottom Contact Behaviour of Humpback WhalesJan-Olaf Meynecke0Johan Gustafon1David E. Cade2Whales & Climate Research Program, Griffith University, Gold Coast 4222, AustraliaCentre for Coastal and Marine Research, Griffith University, Gold Coast 4222, AustraliaHopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Monterey Bay, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USACetaceans are known for their intelligence and display of complex behaviours including object use. For example, bowhead whales (<i>Balaena mysticetus</i>) are known to rub on rocks and some humpback whale (<i>Megaptera novaeangliae</i>) populations undertake lateral bottom feeding. Such underwater behaviour is difficult to observe but can play a critical role in the whales’ survival and well-being. Distinguishing social behaviours from those which serve a specific function remains challenging due to a lack of direct observations and detailed descriptions of such behaviours. A CATS (Customized Animal Tracking Solutions) suction cup tag with on board video and a 3D inertial measurement unit was deployed on three different humpback whales to assess their behaviour in the Gold Coast bay, Australia. Here, we present evidence of humpback whales (tagged and untagged individuals) performing bottom contact with prolonged rolling on sandy substrate. In addition, we showed that fish were actively feeding from the whales’ skin during this behaviour. We detail the behaviour and discuss possible drivers, with a focus on cetacean innovation, possible ectoparasite removal, and habitat preferences.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/11/3/600taggingbiotelemetryhumpback whaleshabitat usenovel behaviourbottom contact |
| spellingShingle | Jan-Olaf Meynecke Johan Gustafon David E. Cade Exfoliating Whales–Sandy Bottom Contact Behaviour of Humpback Whales Journal of Marine Science and Engineering tagging biotelemetry humpback whales habitat use novel behaviour bottom contact |
| title | Exfoliating Whales–Sandy Bottom Contact Behaviour of Humpback Whales |
| title_full | Exfoliating Whales–Sandy Bottom Contact Behaviour of Humpback Whales |
| title_fullStr | Exfoliating Whales–Sandy Bottom Contact Behaviour of Humpback Whales |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exfoliating Whales–Sandy Bottom Contact Behaviour of Humpback Whales |
| title_short | Exfoliating Whales–Sandy Bottom Contact Behaviour of Humpback Whales |
| title_sort | exfoliating whales sandy bottom contact behaviour of humpback whales |
| topic | tagging biotelemetry humpback whales habitat use novel behaviour bottom contact |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/11/3/600 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT janolafmeynecke exfoliatingwhalessandybottomcontactbehaviourofhumpbackwhales AT johangustafon exfoliatingwhalessandybottomcontactbehaviourofhumpbackwhales AT davidecade exfoliatingwhalessandybottomcontactbehaviourofhumpbackwhales |