Dolphins and Whales News -- ScienceDaily

Study reveals influence of krill availability on humpback whale pregnancies (Mon, 23 Jan 2023)
Scientists show reduced krill supplies lead to fewer pregnancies in humpback whales -- a finding that could have major implications for industrial krill fishing. Data from Antarctica show more humpback whales get pregnant after years with abundant krill than after years when krill were less plentiful.
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Toxic toilet paper and long-lasting chemicals found in endangered killer whales (Thu, 12 Jan 2023)
A chemical used in the production of toilet paper and 'forever chemicals' have been found in the bodies of orcas in B.C. , including the endangered southern resident killer whales. Scientists analyzed tissue samples from six southern resident killer whales and six Bigg's whales stranded along the coast of B.C. from 2006 to 2018, according to a recent study. They discovered that chemical pollutants are prevalent in killer whales, with a chemical often found in toilet paper one of the most prevalent in the samples studied, accounting for 46 per cent of the total pollutants identified.
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Dolphins 'shout' over loud underwater noise to complete a cooperative task (Thu, 12 Jan 2023)
Dolphins are social, intelligent animals who rely on whistles and echolocation to hunt and reproduce. This means that noise generated from human activity such as drilling and shipping has the potential to negatively impact the health of wild dolphin populations. A study demonstrates that dolphins 'shout' when trying to work together in response to increasing underwater noise levels.
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New activity trackers for dolphin conservation (Thu, 22 Dec 2022)
Just like a smartwatch can tell its wearer how many calories they consume during exercise, data from dolphin wearables can now be used to estimate how much energy dolphins use when they swim.
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Whales could be a valuable carbon sink, say scientists (Thu, 15 Dec 2022)
Nature-based solutions to fight climate change take a holistic approach that promotes biodiversity and ecosystem preservation. While many efforts have focused on planting trees or restoring wetlands, researchers now also advocate for the importance of understanding the carbon sequestration potential of the planet's largest animals -- whales. Researchers explore how these marine giants can influence the amount of carbon in our air and waters and potentially contribute to the overall reduction of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
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