May 14, 2025 • 28 mins
Dive into the expansive world of the Fin Whale, the fast and widely distributed second-largest animal on Earth, known for undertaking extensive seasonal migrations across major oceans. Learn how this species, classified as vulnerable due to historical whaling, faces ongoing threats like ship strikes and entanglement. Discover their vital ecological role as filter feeders and their contribution to nutrient cycling in marine ecosystems, highlighting why conservation efforts and continued research are crucial for their recovery and the health of our oceans.
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(00:00):
You're listening to MUA nature documentaries.
Today on the Deep Dive, we're heading into the vast world of
the fin whale. Balanophora fizzles.
You know, the second largest animal on Earth, found pretty
much everywhere in our ocean. That's right, a truly global
species. And you, our listeners, wanted a
deeper understanding. So that's exactly what we're
(00:20):
doing. We've looked through the
research. And while our mission today is
to really unstack the life of this incredible ocean giant.
Figure out where they live, how they survive, and importantly,
their role in the whole Marine picture.
OK, let's jump right in distribution and habitat.
Right. So as you said, they're
everywhere, all major oceans from the really cold polar
waters right down to the tropics.
(00:42):
But interestingly, you're more likely to bump into them in
those temperate and polar zones.That adaptability is pretty
amazing, isn't it? Just thriving across such
different conditions? But are they all just one big
group swimming around together? No, not quite.
Research points to sort of distinct populations.
You got the North Atlantic group, the North Pacific group,
(01:03):
and then the Southern Hemispherewhales.
OK, separate populations and they migrate, right?
Our sources mention these big seasonal journeys.
Exactly. That's a key part of their
lifestyle. Generally they spend summers
feeding up in the high latitudeswhere food is abundant.
Then come winter, they had to warmer lower latitudes.
For breeding. Precisely for breeding and
(01:25):
calving. It highlights how tired they are
to where the food is, seasonallyspeaking.
But it seems not all of them follow that exact pattern.
We saw mentions of populations in the Mediterranean and the
Gulf of California that seem to stick around more.
That's a great point. Yeah, those populations are
considered more resident. It probably comes down to prey.
If there's enough food availableyear round in those spots, they
(01:48):
might not need make those huge migratory tracks.
So it shows some local adaptation within the species
makes sense. It's really driven by finding
those reliable food sources. Absolutely, and ocean conditions
play a part too, right? Things like water temperature
currents, they influence where the prey hangs out.
Right, so the whales are essentially following the food,
which is influenced by the oceanitself.
(02:09):
And this ties into bigger climate patterns too, which
could mean shifts in where we find them over time.
Which brings up a, well, a sobering point from the past
there. Distribution today isn't just
about natural patterns, is it? Whaling must have had a massive
impact. Fall Undoubtedly the intense
whaling in the 20th century drastically cut their numbers.
(02:29):
If fragmented populations altered their movements, and you
know they likely haven't fully reclaimed all of their
historical range. You really can't understand
their current distribution without considering that
history. A heavy legacy, OK, so preferred
spots, the research says. Deep offshore waters generally
out in the open. Ocean.
That's their typical hunt, yes, primarily pelagic out beyond the
(02:51):
continental shelf, but as we noted with the Med and Gulf of
California groups, they can pop up closer to shore, especially
where that shelf is narrow and deep water is nearby
concentrating prey. So adaptable even in their main
habitat choice and obviously where they are changes with the
seasons tied to feeding and breeding.
Exactly that. That seasonal shift is
fundamental. It just showcases how they
(03:13):
utilize different parts of the ocean for different needs.
They really are masters of diverse marine environments.
Wrap your head around the scale.Let's look at specifics.
North Atlantic, the research mentions from the Gulf of Mexico
way up to the Arctic. Iceland.
Greenland. Eastern North America.
That's vast it. Really is.
It shows they can handle huge temperature swings and find food
(03:37):
across that entire basin. Yeah, maintaining connections
across that whole range is pretty important for the
population's. Health and similar story in the
North Pacific, California, up toAlaska, across to Japan, Russia,
the Bering Sea, another enormousarea.
Yep, mirrors the Atlantic and scale similar ecological drivers
finding those pockets of prey across that vast ocean.
(03:57):
And down South, widespread in the Southern Ocean, especially
near the Antarctic Convergence, but less common in tropical
waters there. Why the difference?
Well the Southern Ocean is just incredibly rich, especially with
krill. Those colder or nutrient dense
waters are the prime feeding grounds down there.
Tropical waters are generally less productive, so less
appealing for a massive filter feeder needing tons of food.
(04:20):
OK. So open ocean deep water is the
norm most common seasonally in temperate and polar feeding
zones. And those long migrations are
proof of that strategy. Exploit the summer boom in food.
But they can show up near coastsif conditions are.
Right right now, thinking about their history before whaling,
they were apparently incredibly abundant, the dominant species
(04:43):
in both hemispheres. Which makes the impact of 20th
century whaling even more shocking.
Such a drastic reduction. Really was catastrophic.
Yeah. And today, while they are still
widespread, their numbers tell that story.
The North Atlantic seems to be recovering somewhat, which is
encouraging. But slower in the North Pacific.
Yeah, recovery seems slower there.
And assessing the Southern Oceanpopulations is, well, it's still
(05:03):
quite complex. It just shows the long shadow of
that exploitation and how variable recovery can be.
All leading to their current IUCN status vulnerable.
A clear sign they still need ourattention and protection.
Absolutely, which is maybe a good point to shift gears and
talk about how they do all this.They're amazing physical traits
and adaptations. They really are built for the
(05:23):
ocean, aren't they? That's streamlined shape.
It reduces drag, so effectively allowing speeds up to 40
kilometers per hour. That's fast for something so
huge. That speed is crucial.
Escaping predators, yes, but also just covering the immense
distances needed to find food patches in the open ocean.
And of course, instead of teeth,they have baleen.
(05:45):
Those baleen plates made of keratin, Like our fingernails,
right? Acting as these giant filters.
Exactly. They engulfed just enormous
volumes of water and prey. Krill small fish then use their
tongue to push the water out through the baleen, trapping the
food inside. An incredibly efficient way to
harvest tiny organisms. And their size?
Up to 26 meters long, Just staggering.
(06:07):
Only the blue whale is bigger. That size alone must deter most
things that might think of bothering them.
It's certainly a major defence. Orcas are really the only
significant natural predator. And then there's a blubber.
Right, that thick layer insulation obviously against the
cold, but also energy storage and buoyancy.
All three, It's a vital adaptation.
(06:27):
It's super important for energy reserves during those long
migrations or breeding seasons when they might feed less.
Another really distinctive thingis their coloration, that
asymmetry. The right side of the head is
lighter than the left. What's the thinking behind that?
It's fascinating, isn't it? The exact function is still
debated, but one popular theory is that it helps with feeding.
(06:49):
Maybe startling prey on one side, or helping coordinate
movements when feeding in groups.
Perhaps still an area active research.
Intriguing. And being mammals, they need to
breathe air. Their respiratory system must be
incredibly efficient. Absolutely huge lungs, efficient
oxygen exchange. They surface, take a few
powerful breaths through their blowholes and can then submerge
(07:10):
for typically 10 to 15 minutes. And they can dive keep 2 or 200
meters. Wow, giving them access to food
at different depths. And they communicate underwater
too, don't they, with those low frequency?
Sounds yes, very low frequency calls that travel incredibly
long distances underwater, hundreds of kilometers.
Potentially likely crucial for staying in touch during
migrations, finding mates that sort of.
(07:32):
Thing an underwater communication network and those
grooves or pleats on their throat and chest, What's their
function? The ventral pleats, another
feeding adaptation. They allow the throat area to
expand massively like an accordion.
When they gulp in that huge mouthful of water and prey, it
dramatically increases the volume they can take in one.
(07:52):
Go amazing design. Now babies calves are born huge
already around 6 to 6.5 meters, but interestingly they don't
have that strong asymmetry at birth.
That's right, the coloration is much more uniform when they're
born. That distinct light patch on the
right side develops as they mature, which suggests this
function is more important in their adult life, perhaps tied
(08:12):
to those feeding strategies you mentioned.
And what about things like barnacles or skin lesions?
Are those signs of trouble? Not necessarily.
Barnacles are pretty common hitchhikers on large whales.
Usually harmless minor lesions can happen from various things.
Of course, if there are extensive or unusual lesions,
researchers would certainly takenote as it could indicate an
(08:33):
underlying health issue. And blubber thickness changes
right seasonally. They build it up in the rich
feeding grounds, then utilize those reserves for energy and
insulation during migration or in warmer breeding waters where
they might eat. Less and scars.
They can tell a story too. Encounters with predators, other
whales, maybe even human interactions.
(08:54):
Yes, scars are like a whales life history written on its
skin. Researchers can even use
distinctive scars to identify individual whales overtime,
which is incredibly useful for tracking studies.
Going back to staying warm, thatblubber is key.
But they have other tricks too, right?
Like countercurrent heat exchange?
How does that? Work.
It's quite clever. Basically the arteries carrying
(09:14):
warm blood out to the flippers and tail run right alongside the
veins, bringing cold blood back towards the body.
Core heat transfers from the warm arteries to the cold veins,
warming the returning blood before its get back to the core.
It minimizes heat loss from those extremities out to the
cold water. Very efficient.
Ingenious and justice being massive helps too, doesn't it?
(09:37):
Less surface area relative to their volume.
Exactly the classic surface areato volume ratio benefit.
Bigger things lose heat slower, plus their high metabolism
generates a lot of internal heat, and even migrating to
warmer waters for calving could be seen as a behavioral way to
help regulate temperature, especially for the newborn.
(09:57):
Makes sense. What about males and females?
Any obvious differences besides size?
Females are slightly bigger apparently.
Yes, females tend to be a bit larger, maybe 5 to 10% longer on
average, but it's not something you'd easily spot just by
looking. You need to measure them,
otherwise they look pretty much identical.
OK. And subspecies we hear about
Northern hemisphere and SouthernHemisphere types.
Are they quite different? There are two recognized
(10:19):
subspecies yes, Balanophora physalis physalis in the North
Atlantic Pacific and Balanophoraphysalis koi in the South.
The southern ones tend to be larger overall, likely due to
the sheer abundance of krill down there.
And are there other differences,maybe in their calls or how they
feed? There are subtle differences
(10:39):
reported in their vocalizations,yeah, and possibly some
variations in feeding behavior directed to the specific prey in
their regions. Genetic studies are ongoing,
too, looking deeper into the distinctions and potential
regional forms within those broader subspecies.
Always more to learn. OK, let's dive into their life
cycle reproduction. Right, so breeding happens in
(11:00):
winter, but the timing is flipped depending on the
hemisphere because of the seasons more than hemisphere is
roughly November to January. And Southern Hemisphere.
June to September, generally it lines up perfectly with their
migrations to those Warner lowerlatitude waters we talked.
About for calving as well, so the babies are born in warmer
conditions. Exactly.
Gives the caves a better start in life.
(11:21):
Avoids the extreme cold of the feeding grounds Initially.
Gestation is long, about 11 to 12 months.
Wow, that's a big commitment forthe mother.
It is, and it results in a remarkably large calf birth, 6
to 6.5 meters long, weighing around 1800 kilograms.
Incredible, and they nurse for agood while.
About six to seven months they get this incredibly rich fatty
(11:43):
milk which fuels really rapid growth and this nursing period
actually coincides with the mother of migrating back towards
the feeding crowds. So the calf travels with her
while still nursing. Yes, it's a crucial period of
maternal care. After weaning, they entered the
juvenile stage still growing, learning to forage on their own,
often staying near their mothersor in loose associations with
(12:05):
other young whales. And when do they become adults,
ready to breed? Sexual maturity hits somewhere
between 6:00 and 12:00 years old.
Males might be slightly later, but then they're already huge,
maybe 18 to 20 meters long. And then they join that annual
cycle, breeding in the winter grounds, which involves complex
social stuff, male competition. That seems to be the case.
Then it's back to the feeding grounds in summer and they can
(12:26):
live a long time, potentially 80or 90 years, though that's
influenced by environmental factors and, unfortunately,
human impacts. And eventually senescence
decline. Yeah, like all animals, natural
causes of death would be things like predation, those orca
attacks we mentioned, disease, or simply old age.
But again, human threats like ship strikes and entanglement
(12:47):
are major factors now. A tough life cycle.
Now, something really unusual mentioned in the research
Hybridization with blue whales. How does that even happen?
It is quite remarkable and rare.It's been observed mainly where
their ranges overlap, like partsof the North Atlantic and
Pacific. Genetic tests have actually
confirmed these hybrids exist. Wow, what do they look like?
(13:08):
They tend to show a mix of features from both species.
The implications evolutionarily and ecologically are still being
studied. We don't fully understand how
viable these hybrids are or whatfactors lead to this, you know,
species breeding or what impact it has on either population
really. Fascinating though.
OK, back to parenting. It sounds like it's mostly down
to the mother. Very much so, that mother calf
(13:30):
bond is incredibly strong and absolutely vital for the calf
survival. The mother provides all the
nourishment, protection from dangers and teaches critical
skills, how to navigate, where to find food, how to behave.
And that 6-7 month nursing period is intense.
Then the migration together. Right even after weaning, the
(13:50):
young whale might stick close toits mother for a while,
continuing to learn that mother calf pair is really the core
social unit we see. Learning the ropes and
physically juveniles look different beyond just size,
right? Yeah, apart from being much
smaller, their coloration is often more muted.
Their skin tends to be smoother.Fewer scars obviously, than an
old adult, and proportionally their head might look a bit
(14:13):
larger, Flippers and fins more prominent relative to their body
size. Like they haven't quite grown
into their features yet, and behaviorally that dependence on
mom is key early on. Absolutely, learning to forage
efficiently that lunch feeding technique takes time and
practice after weaning. And they seem more playful
breaching tail slapping. Is that just for fun?
(14:35):
It might be partly fun, yes, butit's also thought these
energetic behaviors help developmuscle coordination, strength,
maybe even social communication skills.
Active youngsters? OK, let's shift to what fuels
these giants diet and what mighttry to eat them.
Their diet is focused on small schooling creatures, primarily
(14:55):
krill, especially down South, and small fish like capelin,
herring, sand Lance in places like the North Atlantic.
Other zooplankton too. It really varies depending on
where they are and what's abundant.
And they use that lunch sheetingthat we talked about.
It sounds like it takes a lot ofenergy.
It's very energy intensive, yes,that explosive burst of speed
engulfing that massive amount ofwater, but it's incredibly
(15:17):
effective for capturing huge numbers of small prey quickly.
Essential for building up energystores, especially before
migration. And those migrations are all
about following the food source.Exactly.
Summer feeding in those productive high latitudes then
potentially reduced feeding during the winter breeding
season in warmer, less productive waters.
By eating so much, they must play a pretty big role in
(15:38):
controlling those prey populations.
Definitely there are major consumers helping to regulate
the abundance of krill and smallfish, which keeps the food web
in balance. And beyond just eating, they
contribute back that whale pump idea.
Yes, their waste, their feces, is rich in nutrients like
nitrogen and iron. When they feed at depth and
excrete near the surface, they're effectively fertilizing
(16:01):
the upper layers of the ocean. Which boosts phytoplankton
growth. Precisely.
And phytoplankton are the base of almost all marine food webs,
so the whales help fuel the whole system's productivity.
It's a really important ecological function.
So they're shaping the ecosystemfrom both ends, consuming prey
and fertilizing the base. That's a great way to put it,
(16:22):
their role as these cascading effects throughout the
ecosystem. OK, so predators, we mentioned
orcas. Are they the only real threat?
For a healthy adult fin whale, orcas are the primary natural
predator. They usually hunt in coordinated
pods and option target younger, smaller or perhaps sick or
injured individuals. Makes sense.
A full grown fin whale seems like formidable opponent.
(16:44):
What defences do they have? Size and strength are huge
deterrence, obviously. Their speed can also help them
outpace or evade attack attempts, and sometimes, though
they aren't typically highly social, they might group up
defensively if threatened. Size, speed, maybe some group
defence. Got it.
So food availability really dictates their movements driving
(17:07):
those migrations. Absolutely.
They need to go where the food is concentrated and abundant,
especially during the summer feeding season.
That's when you see that really intensive lunge feeding
behavior. And their range might even
expand or contract depending on where the prey.
Is we can, Yes, they'll follow the food.
That's why areas like the Gulf of Maine, waters around Iceland
(17:27):
or the Antarctic Convergence aresuch important hotspots,
reliable feeding grounds. So locally they're key predators
of krill and small fish, and globally through the whale pump,
their nutrient cyclers. A vital role in maintaining
healthy oceans. OK.
Let's broaden that out thinking about their entire ecosystem
role. It really is multifaceted.
We've covered their feeding and nutrient cycling, but they're
(17:49):
also just part of the food web structure itself.
Right. Those trophic interactions,
eating and being eaten or potentially eaten, keep things
in balance. And that will pump mechanism,
bringing nutrients up from the deep.
It's hard to overstate its importance for surface
productivity. Fertilizing the ocean,
essentially. Supporting phytoplankton, which
means supporting everything elseultimately, and oxygen
(18:11):
production too indirectly. Exactly.
You can think of them as ecosystem engineers in a way.
They actively modify nutrient flows and influence the
structure of the marine environment.
And then there's whale fall whenthey die in sink.
That's important, too. Yes, that's a significant
process. A huge whale carcass sinking to
the deep sea floor represents a massive input of organic matter
(18:34):
and nutrients to an environment.It's typically food poor.
It supports unique deep sea communities for decades.
And it walks away carbon, right?It does.
It's a form of natural carbon sequestration, taking carbon out
of the surface system and storing it in the deep ocean for
potentially long periods. So even death contributes and
their feeding can help other species like birds.
(18:56):
Yeah, sometimes they're feeding.Activity can make prey more
accessible if they injure or disorient fish or drive them to
the surface. Seabirds or smaller predators
might benefit from the easy meal, indirectly supporting
biodiversity. It's all connected.
And what about bioturbation? Moving sediments around.
Their movements, especially feeding near the bottom in some
areas or just their general passage through the water, can
(19:19):
stir up sediments and mix water layers.
It might seem minor, but scaled up across a population it can
influence local nutrient distribution.
And they even have their own little ecosystems on and inside
them, microbes. Oh yes, like us, they have
complex gut microbiomes essential for digestion and
unique communities of microbes living on their skin, all part
(19:39):
of their biology and health. Do they have any specific
partnerships like symbiotic relationships, cleaner fish or
anything like? That not really well documented.
Direct neutralism is like cleaner fish.
No, their main positive interactions are more indirect.
That whale pump effect benefiting the whole food web
which ultimately includes their own prey.
Maintaining that balance benefits many species.
(20:02):
But they do have parasites and diseases.
Yes, absolutely. Internal parasites like
nematodes and tapeworms. External ones like barnacles and
whale ice. They can also suffer from
bacterial infections like brucella or viral infections
like morbillivirus, which can beserious.
And environmental stress like pollution or climate change
impacts could make them more vulnerable to these.
(20:23):
That's a major concern, yes. Stressors can weaken immune
systems, making them more susceptible to diseases or the
impacts of parasites. It highlights how interconnected
their health is with the health of the ocean environment itself.
A complex picture. OK, let's turn to those threats
and the efforts being made for conservation.
Right. And as we mentioned there,
official status is vulnerable according to the IUCN, that
(20:46):
reflects the historical damage and ongoing risks.
Historically, commercial whalingwas the overwhelming threat,
decimating populations in the 20th century.
Absolutely catastrophic. The moratorium on commercial
whaling by the IWC starting backin the 80s was a crucial turning
point, though it's worth noting some whaling does still occur
under specific circumstances like scientific permits or
(21:09):
objections. But the large scale industrial
hunt is largely over. What are the main threats today?
There's a concerning list. Ship strikes are a major issue,
especially in busy shipping lanes that overlap with whale
habitats or migration routes. Entanglement in fishing gear is
another significant cause of injury and death.
And then the bigger, more pervasive issues.
Climate change is a huge one. It's shifting ocean temperatures
(21:32):
and currents which affects the distribution and abundance of
their prey. Krill and small fish noise
pollution from shipping sonar, seismic surveys that interferes
with their communication and behavior, and chemical
pollution. Persistent organic pollutants,
heavy metals accumulating in their bodies.
It's a lot to contend with. So what's being done?
We have the IWC moratorium citeslisting, prohibits trade.
(21:56):
What about protected areas? Marine Protected Areas MPA's are
an important tool in designated areas.
Activities like shipping might be restricted or fishing gear
modified to reduce risks. Stellwagen Bank off the US East
Coast is a good example where measures are in place.
And research and monitoring yourkey too, right?
Keeping track of populations. Vital organizations like NOAA in
(22:17):
the US and others globally conduct surveys, use satellite
tags to track movements, deploy acoustic monitors to listen for
calls, all to understand population status, trends and
how they use different habitats.How effective are these measures
proving to be? Do MPA's really work for a
species that travel so far? MPA's can definitely reduce
threats within their boundaries.Reducing ship strike risk or
(22:39):
noise levels in a critical feeding or breeding area is
valuable. But yes, for highly migratory
species, their effectiveness depends on protecting key spots
along their entire range and robust enforcement.
It's a piece of the puzzle. And the international
regulations like the IWC ban? Hugely important in reducing
direct hunting pressure, allowing some populations to
(23:00):
start recovering. But challenges like illegal
whaling, those smaller scale still exist, and the problem of
bycatch, accidental capture and fisheries persists.
What about noise? Can we actually make the oceans
quieter? There are efforts rerouting
ships away from sensitive areas,developing quieter ship
technologies. These things can help locally,
(23:22):
but the overall level of ocean noise is still increasing
globally, so it's a massive challenge.
And climate change and pollutionseem like the hardest nuts to
crack for whale conservation specifically.
They really are, because they require global scale action
beyond just will management. It means tackling greenhouse gas
emissions, reducing plastic waste, controlling chemical
runoff for whale conservation. It means trying to build
(23:43):
resilience, protect key habitatsand adapt management as
conditions change. So definite progress with some
measures, but major ongoing challenges, especially those big
systemic ones, requires constanteffort and international
cooperation. Absolutely.
It's a complex long term effort involving science, policy and
international collaboration. OK, let's consider why all this
(24:04):
effort is so important. Beyond saving a single species,
what's their broader significance scientifically and
educationally? Well, directly, they aren't used
for agriculture or anything likethat, but they're indirect
impact on marine ecosystems is huge and that connects back to
us, especially through fisheries.
Because of that nutrient cyclingsupporting the base of the food.
(24:25):
Web Exactly. Healthy whale populations
contribute to productive oceans.Productive oceans support
healthy fish stocks, which millions of people rely on.
It's an ecological service they provide.
And they're considered a keystone species, right?
What does that really? Mean it means their influence on
the ecosystem is much larger than you might expect just based
on their numbers. Removing them as whaling did has
(24:46):
profound ripple effects. They're also a flagship species,
charismatic animals that capturepublic attention and can
galvanized support for conserving entire marine
environments. They definitely do that, and
whale watching, that's become a significant economic activity in
many places. Sustainable ecotourism.
Yes, it provides economic reasons to protect them and
educates people directly. Scientifically studying them
(25:10):
tells us so much about ocean health.
Their diet reveals food web dynamics.
And their sounds, monitoring populations and noise impacts.
Crucial. Their sensitivity to ocean
changes also makes them valuableindicators for climate change
impacts. Tracking shifts in their
migration or distribution gives us clues about larger
environmental shifts. Genetic studies too, for
(25:30):
conservation. Essential understanding
population structure, diversity,connectivity that's vital for
designing effective management plans and just fundamentally
studying their Physiology, how they thrive in the deep ocean,
teaches us about the extremes ofmammalian life.
How do scientists actually studythese enormous, elusive animals?
It takes a whole toolkit. Traditional methods like aerial
(25:52):
and ship based surveys help estimate population sizes and
map distribution. Acoustic monitoring using
underwater microphones or hydrophones listens for their
calls to understand presence, movements, and behavior.
And tagging. Satellite tagging is amazing.
It gives us detailed tracks of their migrations, diving
patterns where they spend their time, photo identification,
matching unique marks on fins orbodies.
(26:14):
Lets researchers track individual whales over years,
learning about life spans, social associations.
What about getting direct samples?
Biopsy sampling, collecting tinyskin and blubber samples,
usually with a dart, provides invaluable data for genetics,
contaminant levels, hormone analysis for reproductive
status, even diet through stableisotopes.
(26:36):
And newer technologies drones dot E DNA.
Drones are increasingly used forbehavior observation, assessing
body condition from above, even collecting blow samples exhaled
at the surface for health analysis.
Environmental DNA, or Edna detecting traces of their DNA in
water samples is an emerging tool to understand presence and
distribution without even seeingthe.
(26:56):
Whale and stranding sadly also provide information.
Yes, necropsies on stranded animals give insights into
causes of death, diseases, diet,reproductive history, valuable
biological data, though obviously obtained under tragic
circumstances. So a lot of different
approaches. Despite all that, are there
still big gaps in what we? Know OHP?
Definitely. We still need better, more
(27:16):
precise population estimates formany areas.
The exact migratory routes and the specific cues they use for
navigation are still not fully mapped.
Out and details about their feeding.
Does it vary a lot? We need more research on
regional and seasonal dietary shifts.
Yes, and the full impact of climate change on their habitats
and prey sources is a huge area needing more study.
(27:37):
What about their social lives? Communication.
Their social structure, especially away from the
breeding grounds, is still quitemysterious.
We need more long term observations and fully
understanding their complex communication is an ongoing
challenge. Plus, quantifying the exact
impact of threats like ship strikes, noise and entanglement
across different populations remains critical.
(28:00):
It sounds like Finwall research will keep scientists disease for
a long time to come. For sure they are magnificent,
complex animals and understanding them better is key
not only for their conservation,but for understanding the health
of our entire planets oceans. Well, that brings us towards the
end of this deep dive into the truly fascinating world of the
fin whale. It really has been covering so
(28:21):
much ground, from their global journeys to their intricate role
within the Ocean's web of life. Credit to Moon Nature
Documentaries moo.com, owned by Karl Heinz Miller.
And as a final thought for you, our listener, reflecting on all
this, just consider that incredible interconnectedness of
ocean life. Think about the vital part
played by a creature as immense,in many ways still mysterious,
(28:42):
as the fin whale. What responsibility do we all
share in ensuring they and the oceans they depend on have a
future in the face of so much change?
You're listening to MUA nature documentaries.
Today on the Deep Dive, we're heading into the vast world of
the fin whale. Balanophora fizzles.
You know, the second largest animal on Earth, found pretty
much everywhere in our ocean. That's right, a truly global
species. And you, our listeners, wanted a
deeper understanding. So that's exactly what we're
(00:20):
doing. We've looked through the
research. And while our mission today is
to really unstack the life of this incredible ocean giant.
Figure out where they live, how they survive, and importantly,
their role in the whole Marine picture.
OK, let's jump right in distribution and habitat.
Right. So as you said, they're
everywhere, all major oceans from the really cold polar
waters right down to the tropics.
(00:42):
But interestingly, you're more likely to bump into them in
those temperate and polar zones.That adaptability is pretty
amazing, isn't it? Just thriving across such
different conditions? But are they all just one big
group swimming around together? No, not quite.
Research points to sort of distinct populations.
You got the North Atlantic group, the North Pacific group,
(01:03):
and then the Southern Hemispherewhales.
OK, separate populations and they migrate, right?
Our sources mention these big seasonal journeys.
Exactly. That's a key part of their
lifestyle. Generally they spend summers
feeding up in the high latitudeswhere food is abundant.
Then come winter, they had to warmer lower latitudes.
For breeding. Precisely for breeding and
(01:25):
calving. It highlights how tired they are
to where the food is, seasonallyspeaking.
But it seems not all of them follow that exact pattern.
We saw mentions of populations in the Mediterranean and the
Gulf of California that seem to stick around more.
That's a great point. Yeah, those populations are
considered more resident. It probably comes down to prey.
If there's enough food availableyear round in those spots, they
(01:48):
might not need make those huge migratory tracks.
So it shows some local adaptation within the species
makes sense. It's really driven by finding
those reliable food sources. Absolutely, and ocean conditions
play a part too, right? Things like water temperature
currents, they influence where the prey hangs out.
Right, so the whales are essentially following the food,
which is influenced by the oceanitself.
(02:09):
And this ties into bigger climate patterns too, which
could mean shifts in where we find them over time.
Which brings up a, well, a sobering point from the past
there. Distribution today isn't just
about natural patterns, is it? Whaling must have had a massive
impact. Fall Undoubtedly the intense
whaling in the 20th century drastically cut their numbers.
(02:29):
If fragmented populations altered their movements, and you
know they likely haven't fully reclaimed all of their
historical range. You really can't understand
their current distribution without considering that
history. A heavy legacy, OK, so preferred
spots, the research says. Deep offshore waters generally
out in the open. Ocean.
That's their typical hunt, yes, primarily pelagic out beyond the
(02:51):
continental shelf, but as we noted with the Med and Gulf of
California groups, they can pop up closer to shore, especially
where that shelf is narrow and deep water is nearby
concentrating prey. So adaptable even in their main
habitat choice and obviously where they are changes with the
seasons tied to feeding and breeding.
Exactly that. That seasonal shift is
fundamental. It just showcases how they
(03:13):
utilize different parts of the ocean for different needs.
They really are masters of diverse marine environments.
Wrap your head around the scale.Let's look at specifics.
North Atlantic, the research mentions from the Gulf of Mexico
way up to the Arctic. Iceland.
Greenland. Eastern North America.
That's vast it. Really is.
It shows they can handle huge temperature swings and find food
(03:37):
across that entire basin. Yeah, maintaining connections
across that whole range is pretty important for the
population's. Health and similar story in the
North Pacific, California, up toAlaska, across to Japan, Russia,
the Bering Sea, another enormousarea.
Yep, mirrors the Atlantic and scale similar ecological drivers
finding those pockets of prey across that vast ocean.
(03:57):
And down South, widespread in the Southern Ocean, especially
near the Antarctic Convergence, but less common in tropical
waters there. Why the difference?
Well the Southern Ocean is just incredibly rich, especially with
krill. Those colder or nutrient dense
waters are the prime feeding grounds down there.
Tropical waters are generally less productive, so less
appealing for a massive filter feeder needing tons of food.
(04:20):
OK. So open ocean deep water is the
norm most common seasonally in temperate and polar feeding
zones. And those long migrations are
proof of that strategy. Exploit the summer boom in food.
But they can show up near coastsif conditions are.
Right right now, thinking about their history before whaling,
they were apparently incredibly abundant, the dominant species
(04:43):
in both hemispheres. Which makes the impact of 20th
century whaling even more shocking.
Such a drastic reduction. Really was catastrophic.
Yeah. And today, while they are still
widespread, their numbers tell that story.
The North Atlantic seems to be recovering somewhat, which is
encouraging. But slower in the North Pacific.
Yeah, recovery seems slower there.
And assessing the Southern Oceanpopulations is, well, it's still
(05:03):
quite complex. It just shows the long shadow of
that exploitation and how variable recovery can be.
All leading to their current IUCN status vulnerable.
A clear sign they still need ourattention and protection.
Absolutely, which is maybe a good point to shift gears and
talk about how they do all this.They're amazing physical traits
and adaptations. They really are built for the
(05:23):
ocean, aren't they? That's streamlined shape.
It reduces drag, so effectively allowing speeds up to 40
kilometers per hour. That's fast for something so
huge. That speed is crucial.
Escaping predators, yes, but also just covering the immense
distances needed to find food patches in the open ocean.
And of course, instead of teeth,they have baleen.
(05:45):
Those baleen plates made of keratin, Like our fingernails,
right? Acting as these giant filters.
Exactly. They engulfed just enormous
volumes of water and prey. Krill small fish then use their
tongue to push the water out through the baleen, trapping the
food inside. An incredibly efficient way to
harvest tiny organisms. And their size?
Up to 26 meters long, Just staggering.
(06:07):
Only the blue whale is bigger. That size alone must deter most
things that might think of bothering them.
It's certainly a major defence. Orcas are really the only
significant natural predator. And then there's a blubber.
Right, that thick layer insulation obviously against the
cold, but also energy storage and buoyancy.
All three, It's a vital adaptation.
(06:27):
It's super important for energy reserves during those long
migrations or breeding seasons when they might feed less.
Another really distinctive thingis their coloration, that
asymmetry. The right side of the head is
lighter than the left. What's the thinking behind that?
It's fascinating, isn't it? The exact function is still
debated, but one popular theory is that it helps with feeding.
(06:49):
Maybe startling prey on one side, or helping coordinate
movements when feeding in groups.
Perhaps still an area active research.
Intriguing. And being mammals, they need to
breathe air. Their respiratory system must be
incredibly efficient. Absolutely huge lungs, efficient
oxygen exchange. They surface, take a few
powerful breaths through their blowholes and can then submerge
(07:10):
for typically 10 to 15 minutes. And they can dive keep 2 or 200
meters. Wow, giving them access to food
at different depths. And they communicate underwater
too, don't they, with those low frequency?
Sounds yes, very low frequency calls that travel incredibly
long distances underwater, hundreds of kilometers.
Potentially likely crucial for staying in touch during
migrations, finding mates that sort of.
(07:32):
Thing an underwater communication network and those
grooves or pleats on their throat and chest, What's their
function? The ventral pleats, another
feeding adaptation. They allow the throat area to
expand massively like an accordion.
When they gulp in that huge mouthful of water and prey, it
dramatically increases the volume they can take in one.
(07:52):
Go amazing design. Now babies calves are born huge
already around 6 to 6.5 meters, but interestingly they don't
have that strong asymmetry at birth.
That's right, the coloration is much more uniform when they're
born. That distinct light patch on the
right side develops as they mature, which suggests this
function is more important in their adult life, perhaps tied
(08:12):
to those feeding strategies you mentioned.
And what about things like barnacles or skin lesions?
Are those signs of trouble? Not necessarily.
Barnacles are pretty common hitchhikers on large whales.
Usually harmless minor lesions can happen from various things.
Of course, if there are extensive or unusual lesions,
researchers would certainly takenote as it could indicate an
(08:33):
underlying health issue. And blubber thickness changes
right seasonally. They build it up in the rich
feeding grounds, then utilize those reserves for energy and
insulation during migration or in warmer breeding waters where
they might eat. Less and scars.
They can tell a story too. Encounters with predators, other
whales, maybe even human interactions.
(08:54):
Yes, scars are like a whales life history written on its
skin. Researchers can even use
distinctive scars to identify individual whales overtime,
which is incredibly useful for tracking studies.
Going back to staying warm, thatblubber is key.
But they have other tricks too, right?
Like countercurrent heat exchange?
How does that? Work.
It's quite clever. Basically the arteries carrying
(09:14):
warm blood out to the flippers and tail run right alongside the
veins, bringing cold blood back towards the body.
Core heat transfers from the warm arteries to the cold veins,
warming the returning blood before its get back to the core.
It minimizes heat loss from those extremities out to the
cold water. Very efficient.
Ingenious and justice being massive helps too, doesn't it?
(09:37):
Less surface area relative to their volume.
Exactly the classic surface areato volume ratio benefit.
Bigger things lose heat slower, plus their high metabolism
generates a lot of internal heat, and even migrating to
warmer waters for calving could be seen as a behavioral way to
help regulate temperature, especially for the newborn.
(09:57):
Makes sense. What about males and females?
Any obvious differences besides size?
Females are slightly bigger apparently.
Yes, females tend to be a bit larger, maybe 5 to 10% longer on
average, but it's not something you'd easily spot just by
looking. You need to measure them,
otherwise they look pretty much identical.
OK. And subspecies we hear about
Northern hemisphere and SouthernHemisphere types.
Are they quite different? There are two recognized
(10:19):
subspecies yes, Balanophora physalis physalis in the North
Atlantic Pacific and Balanophoraphysalis koi in the South.
The southern ones tend to be larger overall, likely due to
the sheer abundance of krill down there.
And are there other differences,maybe in their calls or how they
feed? There are subtle differences
(10:39):
reported in their vocalizations,yeah, and possibly some
variations in feeding behavior directed to the specific prey in
their regions. Genetic studies are ongoing,
too, looking deeper into the distinctions and potential
regional forms within those broader subspecies.
Always more to learn. OK, let's dive into their life
cycle reproduction. Right, so breeding happens in
(11:00):
winter, but the timing is flipped depending on the
hemisphere because of the seasons more than hemisphere is
roughly November to January. And Southern Hemisphere.
June to September, generally it lines up perfectly with their
migrations to those Warner lowerlatitude waters we talked.
About for calving as well, so the babies are born in warmer
conditions. Exactly.
Gives the caves a better start in life.
(11:21):
Avoids the extreme cold of the feeding grounds Initially.
Gestation is long, about 11 to 12 months.
Wow, that's a big commitment forthe mother.
It is, and it results in a remarkably large calf birth, 6
to 6.5 meters long, weighing around 1800 kilograms.
Incredible, and they nurse for agood while.
About six to seven months they get this incredibly rich fatty
(11:43):
milk which fuels really rapid growth and this nursing period
actually coincides with the mother of migrating back towards
the feeding crowds. So the calf travels with her
while still nursing. Yes, it's a crucial period of
maternal care. After weaning, they entered the
juvenile stage still growing, learning to forage on their own,
often staying near their mothersor in loose associations with
(12:05):
other young whales. And when do they become adults,
ready to breed? Sexual maturity hits somewhere
between 6:00 and 12:00 years old.
Males might be slightly later, but then they're already huge,
maybe 18 to 20 meters long. And then they join that annual
cycle, breeding in the winter grounds, which involves complex
social stuff, male competition. That seems to be the case.
Then it's back to the feeding grounds in summer and they can
(12:26):
live a long time, potentially 80or 90 years, though that's
influenced by environmental factors and, unfortunately,
human impacts. And eventually senescence
decline. Yeah, like all animals, natural
causes of death would be things like predation, those orca
attacks we mentioned, disease, or simply old age.
But again, human threats like ship strikes and entanglement
(12:47):
are major factors now. A tough life cycle.
Now, something really unusual mentioned in the research
Hybridization with blue whales. How does that even happen?
It is quite remarkable and rare.It's been observed mainly where
their ranges overlap, like partsof the North Atlantic and
Pacific. Genetic tests have actually
confirmed these hybrids exist. Wow, what do they look like?
(13:08):
They tend to show a mix of features from both species.
The implications evolutionarily and ecologically are still being
studied. We don't fully understand how
viable these hybrids are or whatfactors lead to this, you know,
species breeding or what impact it has on either population
really. Fascinating though.
OK, back to parenting. It sounds like it's mostly down
to the mother. Very much so, that mother calf
(13:30):
bond is incredibly strong and absolutely vital for the calf
survival. The mother provides all the
nourishment, protection from dangers and teaches critical
skills, how to navigate, where to find food, how to behave.
And that 6-7 month nursing period is intense.
Then the migration together. Right even after weaning, the
(13:50):
young whale might stick close toits mother for a while,
continuing to learn that mother calf pair is really the core
social unit we see. Learning the ropes and
physically juveniles look different beyond just size,
right? Yeah, apart from being much
smaller, their coloration is often more muted.
Their skin tends to be smoother.Fewer scars obviously, than an
old adult, and proportionally their head might look a bit
(14:13):
larger, Flippers and fins more prominent relative to their body
size. Like they haven't quite grown
into their features yet, and behaviorally that dependence on
mom is key early on. Absolutely, learning to forage
efficiently that lunch feeding technique takes time and
practice after weaning. And they seem more playful
breaching tail slapping. Is that just for fun?
(14:35):
It might be partly fun, yes, butit's also thought these
energetic behaviors help developmuscle coordination, strength,
maybe even social communication skills.
Active youngsters? OK, let's shift to what fuels
these giants diet and what mighttry to eat them.
Their diet is focused on small schooling creatures, primarily
(14:55):
krill, especially down South, and small fish like capelin,
herring, sand Lance in places like the North Atlantic.
Other zooplankton too. It really varies depending on
where they are and what's abundant.
And they use that lunch sheetingthat we talked about.
It sounds like it takes a lot ofenergy.
It's very energy intensive, yes,that explosive burst of speed
engulfing that massive amount ofwater, but it's incredibly
(15:17):
effective for capturing huge numbers of small prey quickly.
Essential for building up energystores, especially before
migration. And those migrations are all
about following the food source.Exactly.
Summer feeding in those productive high latitudes then
potentially reduced feeding during the winter breeding
season in warmer, less productive waters.
By eating so much, they must play a pretty big role in
(15:38):
controlling those prey populations.
Definitely there are major consumers helping to regulate
the abundance of krill and smallfish, which keeps the food web
in balance. And beyond just eating, they
contribute back that whale pump idea.
Yes, their waste, their feces, is rich in nutrients like
nitrogen and iron. When they feed at depth and
excrete near the surface, they're effectively fertilizing
(16:01):
the upper layers of the ocean. Which boosts phytoplankton
growth. Precisely.
And phytoplankton are the base of almost all marine food webs,
so the whales help fuel the whole system's productivity.
It's a really important ecological function.
So they're shaping the ecosystemfrom both ends, consuming prey
and fertilizing the base. That's a great way to put it,
(16:22):
their role as these cascading effects throughout the
ecosystem. OK, so predators, we mentioned
orcas. Are they the only real threat?
For a healthy adult fin whale, orcas are the primary natural
predator. They usually hunt in coordinated
pods and option target younger, smaller or perhaps sick or
injured individuals. Makes sense.
A full grown fin whale seems like formidable opponent.
(16:44):
What defences do they have? Size and strength are huge
deterrence, obviously. Their speed can also help them
outpace or evade attack attempts, and sometimes, though
they aren't typically highly social, they might group up
defensively if threatened. Size, speed, maybe some group
defence. Got it.
So food availability really dictates their movements driving
(17:07):
those migrations. Absolutely.
They need to go where the food is concentrated and abundant,
especially during the summer feeding season.
That's when you see that really intensive lunge feeding
behavior. And their range might even
expand or contract depending on where the prey.
Is we can, Yes, they'll follow the food.
That's why areas like the Gulf of Maine, waters around Iceland
(17:27):
or the Antarctic Convergence aresuch important hotspots,
reliable feeding grounds. So locally they're key predators
of krill and small fish, and globally through the whale pump,
their nutrient cyclers. A vital role in maintaining
healthy oceans. OK.
Let's broaden that out thinking about their entire ecosystem
role. It really is multifaceted.
We've covered their feeding and nutrient cycling, but they're
(17:49):
also just part of the food web structure itself.
Right. Those trophic interactions,
eating and being eaten or potentially eaten, keep things
in balance. And that will pump mechanism,
bringing nutrients up from the deep.
It's hard to overstate its importance for surface
productivity. Fertilizing the ocean,
essentially. Supporting phytoplankton, which
means supporting everything elseultimately, and oxygen
(18:11):
production too indirectly. Exactly.
You can think of them as ecosystem engineers in a way.
They actively modify nutrient flows and influence the
structure of the marine environment.
And then there's whale fall whenthey die in sink.
That's important, too. Yes, that's a significant
process. A huge whale carcass sinking to
the deep sea floor represents a massive input of organic matter
(18:34):
and nutrients to an environment.It's typically food poor.
It supports unique deep sea communities for decades.
And it walks away carbon, right?It does.
It's a form of natural carbon sequestration, taking carbon out
of the surface system and storing it in the deep ocean for
potentially long periods. So even death contributes and
their feeding can help other species like birds.
(18:56):
Yeah, sometimes they're feeding.Activity can make prey more
accessible if they injure or disorient fish or drive them to
the surface. Seabirds or smaller predators
might benefit from the easy meal, indirectly supporting
biodiversity. It's all connected.
And what about bioturbation? Moving sediments around.
Their movements, especially feeding near the bottom in some
areas or just their general passage through the water, can
(19:19):
stir up sediments and mix water layers.
It might seem minor, but scaled up across a population it can
influence local nutrient distribution.
And they even have their own little ecosystems on and inside
them, microbes. Oh yes, like us, they have
complex gut microbiomes essential for digestion and
unique communities of microbes living on their skin, all part
(19:39):
of their biology and health. Do they have any specific
partnerships like symbiotic relationships, cleaner fish or
anything like? That not really well documented.
Direct neutralism is like cleaner fish.
No, their main positive interactions are more indirect.
That whale pump effect benefiting the whole food web
which ultimately includes their own prey.
Maintaining that balance benefits many species.
(20:02):
But they do have parasites and diseases.
Yes, absolutely. Internal parasites like
nematodes and tapeworms. External ones like barnacles and
whale ice. They can also suffer from
bacterial infections like brucella or viral infections
like morbillivirus, which can beserious.
And environmental stress like pollution or climate change
impacts could make them more vulnerable to these.
(20:23):
That's a major concern, yes. Stressors can weaken immune
systems, making them more susceptible to diseases or the
impacts of parasites. It highlights how interconnected
their health is with the health of the ocean environment itself.
A complex picture. OK, let's turn to those threats
and the efforts being made for conservation.
Right. And as we mentioned there,
official status is vulnerable according to the IUCN, that
(20:46):
reflects the historical damage and ongoing risks.
Historically, commercial whalingwas the overwhelming threat,
decimating populations in the 20th century.
Absolutely catastrophic. The moratorium on commercial
whaling by the IWC starting backin the 80s was a crucial turning
point, though it's worth noting some whaling does still occur
under specific circumstances like scientific permits or
(21:09):
objections. But the large scale industrial
hunt is largely over. What are the main threats today?
There's a concerning list. Ship strikes are a major issue,
especially in busy shipping lanes that overlap with whale
habitats or migration routes. Entanglement in fishing gear is
another significant cause of injury and death.
And then the bigger, more pervasive issues.
Climate change is a huge one. It's shifting ocean temperatures
(21:32):
and currents which affects the distribution and abundance of
their prey. Krill and small fish noise
pollution from shipping sonar, seismic surveys that interferes
with their communication and behavior, and chemical
pollution. Persistent organic pollutants,
heavy metals accumulating in their bodies.
It's a lot to contend with. So what's being done?
We have the IWC moratorium citeslisting, prohibits trade.
(21:56):
What about protected areas? Marine Protected Areas MPA's are
an important tool in designated areas.
Activities like shipping might be restricted or fishing gear
modified to reduce risks. Stellwagen Bank off the US East
Coast is a good example where measures are in place.
And research and monitoring yourkey too, right?
Keeping track of populations. Vital organizations like NOAA in
(22:17):
the US and others globally conduct surveys, use satellite
tags to track movements, deploy acoustic monitors to listen for
calls, all to understand population status, trends and
how they use different habitats.How effective are these measures
proving to be? Do MPA's really work for a
species that travel so far? MPA's can definitely reduce
threats within their boundaries.Reducing ship strike risk or
(22:39):
noise levels in a critical feeding or breeding area is
valuable. But yes, for highly migratory
species, their effectiveness depends on protecting key spots
along their entire range and robust enforcement.
It's a piece of the puzzle. And the international
regulations like the IWC ban? Hugely important in reducing
direct hunting pressure, allowing some populations to
(23:00):
start recovering. But challenges like illegal
whaling, those smaller scale still exist, and the problem of
bycatch, accidental capture and fisheries persists.
What about noise? Can we actually make the oceans
quieter? There are efforts rerouting
ships away from sensitive areas,developing quieter ship
technologies. These things can help locally,
(23:22):
but the overall level of ocean noise is still increasing
globally, so it's a massive challenge.
And climate change and pollutionseem like the hardest nuts to
crack for whale conservation specifically.
They really are, because they require global scale action
beyond just will management. It means tackling greenhouse gas
emissions, reducing plastic waste, controlling chemical
runoff for whale conservation. It means trying to build
(23:43):
resilience, protect key habitatsand adapt management as
conditions change. So definite progress with some
measures, but major ongoing challenges, especially those big
systemic ones, requires constanteffort and international
cooperation. Absolutely.
It's a complex long term effort involving science, policy and
international collaboration. OK, let's consider why all this
(24:04):
effort is so important. Beyond saving a single species,
what's their broader significance scientifically and
educationally? Well, directly, they aren't used
for agriculture or anything likethat, but they're indirect
impact on marine ecosystems is huge and that connects back to
us, especially through fisheries.
Because of that nutrient cyclingsupporting the base of the food.
(24:25):
Web Exactly. Healthy whale populations
contribute to productive oceans.Productive oceans support
healthy fish stocks, which millions of people rely on.
It's an ecological service they provide.
And they're considered a keystone species, right?
What does that really? Mean it means their influence on
the ecosystem is much larger than you might expect just based
on their numbers. Removing them as whaling did has
(24:46):
profound ripple effects. They're also a flagship species,
charismatic animals that capturepublic attention and can
galvanized support for conserving entire marine
environments. They definitely do that, and
whale watching, that's become a significant economic activity in
many places. Sustainable ecotourism.
Yes, it provides economic reasons to protect them and
educates people directly. Scientifically studying them
(25:10):
tells us so much about ocean health.
Their diet reveals food web dynamics.
And their sounds, monitoring populations and noise impacts.
Crucial. Their sensitivity to ocean
changes also makes them valuableindicators for climate change
impacts. Tracking shifts in their
migration or distribution gives us clues about larger
environmental shifts. Genetic studies too, for
(25:30):
conservation. Essential understanding
population structure, diversity,connectivity that's vital for
designing effective management plans and just fundamentally
studying their Physiology, how they thrive in the deep ocean,
teaches us about the extremes ofmammalian life.
How do scientists actually studythese enormous, elusive animals?
It takes a whole toolkit. Traditional methods like aerial
(25:52):
and ship based surveys help estimate population sizes and
map distribution. Acoustic monitoring using
underwater microphones or hydrophones listens for their
calls to understand presence, movements, and behavior.
And tagging. Satellite tagging is amazing.
It gives us detailed tracks of their migrations, diving
patterns where they spend their time, photo identification,
matching unique marks on fins orbodies.
(26:14):
Lets researchers track individual whales over years,
learning about life spans, social associations.
What about getting direct samples?
Biopsy sampling, collecting tinyskin and blubber samples,
usually with a dart, provides invaluable data for genetics,
contaminant levels, hormone analysis for reproductive
status, even diet through stableisotopes.
(26:36):
And newer technologies drones dot E DNA.
Drones are increasingly used forbehavior observation, assessing
body condition from above, even collecting blow samples exhaled
at the surface for health analysis.
Environmental DNA, or Edna detecting traces of their DNA in
water samples is an emerging tool to understand presence and
distribution without even seeingthe.
(26:56):
Whale and stranding sadly also provide information.
Yes, necropsies on stranded animals give insights into
causes of death, diseases, diet,reproductive history, valuable
biological data, though obviously obtained under tragic
circumstances. So a lot of different
approaches. Despite all that, are there
still big gaps in what we? Know OHP?
Definitely. We still need better, more
(27:16):
precise population estimates formany areas.
The exact migratory routes and the specific cues they use for
navigation are still not fully mapped.
Out and details about their feeding.
Does it vary a lot? We need more research on
regional and seasonal dietary shifts.
Yes, and the full impact of climate change on their habitats
and prey sources is a huge area needing more study.
(27:37):
What about their social lives? Communication.
Their social structure, especially away from the
breeding grounds, is still quitemysterious.
We need more long term observations and fully
understanding their complex communication is an ongoing
challenge. Plus, quantifying the exact
impact of threats like ship strikes, noise and entanglement
across different populations remains critical.
(28:00):
It sounds like Finwall research will keep scientists disease for
a long time to come. For sure they are magnificent,
complex animals and understanding them better is key
not only for their conservation,but for understanding the health
of our entire planets oceans. Well, that brings us towards the
end of this deep dive into the truly fascinating world of the
fin whale. It really has been covering so
(28:21):
much ground, from their global journeys to their intricate role
within the Ocean's web of life. Credit to Moon Nature
Documentaries moo.com, owned by Karl Heinz Miller.
And as a final thought for you, our listener, reflecting on all
this, just consider that incredible interconnectedness of
ocean life. Think about the vital part
played by a creature as immense,in many ways still mysterious,
(28:42):
as the fin whale. What responsibility do we all
share in ensuring they and the oceans they depend on have a
future in the face of so much change?
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In 1997, actress Kristin Davis’ life was forever changed when she took on the role of Charlotte York in Sex and the City. As we watched Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte navigate relationships in NYC, the show helped push once unacceptable conversation topics out of the shadows and altered the narrative around women and sex. We all saw ourselves in them as they searched for fulfillment in life, sex and friendships. Now, Kristin Davis wants to connect with you, the fans, and share untold stories and all the behind the scenes. Together, with Kristin and special guests, what will begin with Sex and the City will evolve into talks about themes that are still so relevant today. "Are you a Charlotte?" is much more than just rewatching this beloved show, it brings the past and the present together as we talk with heart, humor and of course some optimism.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com