Harbor Porpoise

Bjørge, Arne; Tolley, Krystal A.

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-804327-1.00144-8

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Porpoises are the smallest of the toothed-whales, or odontocetes. Along with dolphins and the large whales they form the order of Cetacea, characterised mainly by their fully aquatic lifestyle, which sets them aside from all other mammals (Bjørge & Tolley 2018;Read 1999).…”

Section: In Nt Tr Ro Od Du Uc Ct Ti Io On Nmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) are charismatic and protected animals, that elicit a broad societal, scientific and political interest into their health and wellbeing. They are an integral component of marine food webs and together with their wide-ranging occurrence (Bjørge & Tolley 2018;Hammond et al 2008) they are key elements in many environmental monitoring programmes (ASCOBANS 1992;Camphuysen & Siemensma 2011;Evans 2019;Evans & Hammond 2004;LNV 2020). These programmes generally aim to increase knowledge on human-related activities impacting the environment, and ultimately to protect and conserve species and habitats.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Porpoises are among the smallest of the toothed-whales, or odontocetes. Along with dolphins and the large whales, they form the order of Cetacea (Bjørge & Tolley 2018;Read 1999). Of the six species of true porpoises (Phocoenidae), the harbour porpoise is by far the most abundant (Bjørge & Tolley 2018).…”

Section: Introducing the Harbour Porpoisementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Along with dolphins and the large whales, they form the order of Cetacea (Bjørge & Tolley 2018;Read 1999). Of the six species of true porpoises (Phocoenidae), the harbour porpoise is by far the most abundant (Bjørge & Tolley 2018). Harbour porpoises have rounded heads and rotund bodies, with a characteristic low, triangular dorsal fin which makes them easily recognizable at sea (Bjørge & Tolley 2018;Camphuysen & Peet 2006).…”

Section: Introducing the Harbour Porpoisementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of the six species of true porpoises (Phocoenidae), the harbour porpoise is by far the most abundant (Bjørge & Tolley 2018). Harbour porpoises have rounded heads and rotund bodies, with a characteristic low, triangular dorsal fin which makes them easily recognizable at sea (Bjørge & Tolley 2018;Camphuysen & Peet 2006). Females are slightly larger than males, with maximum lengths of around 1.8 meters, weighing approximately 65 kg.…”

Section: Introducing the Harbour Porpoisementioning

confidence: 99%

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Living on a knife-edge

IJsseldijk¹

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Large at-sea sighting numbers correspond to a high stranding frequency in North Sea bordering countries, including The Netherlands (Figure 1B) (Camphuysen 2004(Camphuysen , 2011Camphuysen & Peet 2006;Camphuysen & Smeenk 2008;. Due to the statutory requirements of international legislation, stranding networks that record harbour porpoises and other cetaceans found ashore have been implemented decades ago, and postmortem programmes in order to sample stranded animals and monitor their causes of mortality and health status were initiated (Camphuysen & Siemensma 2011;Peltier et al. 2013;ten Doeschate et al. 2018).A successful monitoring program should detect changes in population parameters, which can be used to define and assess the conservation objectives. Using population indices or indicators, particularly those that can inform on population health or even wider environmental health, are increasingly supported and included in the implementation of legislation (

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Section: In Nt Tr Ro Od Du Uc Ct Ti Io On Nmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introducing the Harbour Porpoisementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introducing the Harbour Porpoisementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introducing the Harbour Porpoisementioning

confidence: 99%

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Living on a knife-edge

IJsseldijk¹

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Vertebral morphology in extant porpoises: Radiation and functional implications

Marchesi

Galatius

Zaffino

et al. 2022

Journal of Morphology

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Vertebral morphology has profound biomechanical implications and plays an important role in adaptation to different habitats and foraging strategies for cetaceans.Extant porpoise species (Phocoenidae) display analogous evolutionary patterns in both hemispheres associated with convergent evolution to coastal versus oceanic environments. We employed 3D geometric morphometrics to study vertebral morphology in five porpoise species with contrasting habitats: the coastal Indo-Pacific finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides); the mostly coastal harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) and Burmeister's porpoise (Phocoena spinipinnis); and the oceanic spectacled porpoise (Phocoena dioptrica) and Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli).We evaluated the radiation of vertebral morphology, both in size and shape, using multivariate statistics. We supplemented data with samples of an early-radiating delphinoid species, the narwhal (Monodon monoceros); and an early-radiating delphinid species, the white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris). Principal component analyses were used to map shape variation onto phylogenies, and phylogenetic constraints were investigated through permutation tests. We established links between vertebral morphology and movement patterns through biomechanical inferences from morphological presentations. We evidenced divergence in size between species with contrasting habitats, with coastal species tending to decrease in size from their estimated ancestral state, and oceanic species tending to increase in size. Regarding vertebral shape, coastal species had longer centra and shorter neural processes, but longer transverse processes, while oceanic species tended to have disk-shaped vertebrae with longer neural processes. Within Phocoenidae, the absence of phylogenetic constraints in vertebral morphology suggests a high level of evolutionary lability. Overall, our results are in accordance with the hypothesis of speciation within the family from a coastal ancestor, through adaptation to particular habitats. Variation in vertebral morphology in this group of small odontocetes highlights the importance of environmental complexity and particular selective pressures for the speciation process through the development of adaptations that minimize energetic costs during locomotion and prey capture.

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Sexual Behavior and Anatomy in Porpoises

Webber,

Keener,

Wahlberg

et al. 2023

Sex in Cetaceans

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Among the taxonomic family of porpoises (Phocoenidae), mating behavior in nature has been described in detail only for the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). We review this species’ unusual mating habits based on a study in San Francisco Bay, California, USA, and present new data from across its range in the North Pacific, North Atlantic, Black Sea, and managed care. Results confirm the male’s unique laterality oriented solely to the female’s left side as contact occurred both in nature and managed care. The male’s high-energy sexual approach to the female led to splashy aerial behavior at the surface in nature. Drone footage provided observations of subsurface mating behavior, including evidence of male–male sexual interactions and a male calf interacting sexually with its mother. Harbor porpoise reproductive anatomy is also presented, with new comparative information on the vaquita (Phocoena sinus). The harbor porpoise’s lateralized behavior and anatomy (i.e., long asymmetric penis, large testes size, convoluted asymmetric female reproductive tract) may have coevolved. We note gaps in knowledge, suitable platforms for future investigations (drones, bridges, boats, and coastal cliffs), and what is known about mating behavior in other porpoise species, including hybridization. We conclude with conservation implications for porpoises and encourage researchers to recognize and report mating behavior as baseline data valuable for establishing marine conservation areas.

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Harbor Porpoise

Cited by 9 publications

References 15 publications

Living on a knife-edge

Living on a knife-edge

Vertebral morphology in extant porpoises: Radiation and functional implications

Sexual Behavior and Anatomy in Porpoises

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