Sexual Behavior of Bowhead Whales Observed Off the North Coast of Alaska

Everitt, Robert D.; Krogman, Bruce D.

doi:10.14430/arctic2628

Cited by 17 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 1 publication

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…comm. 1998) support the theory of sperm competition, as does the occurrence of large, sexually active groups (Everitt and Krogman, 1979). …”

Section: Breedingmentioning

confidence: 67%

Natural History and Conservation of the Greenland Whale, or Bowhead, in the Northwest Atlantic

Finley¹

2001

ARCTIC

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ABSTRACT. One of the longest-living mammals, the Greenland whale or bowhead (Balaena mysticetus) is specialized to filter small crustaceans, especially Calanus copepods, from barren Arctic seas. Brought to near extinction by commercial whaling, the North Atlantic 'meta-population' remains at less than 5% of its former abundance, and none of its three constituent stocks has shown demonstrable recovery during the last century. Two of these stocks, the Baffin Bay and Hudson Bay populations, occur in coastal waters of the Eastern Canadian Arctic during summer. Each of these two stocks numbers in the low hundreds and exists in isolated groups segregated by age and sex, showing strong fidelity to essential habitats. A skewed age distribution, predation by killer whales (Orcinus orca), hunting, net entanglement, tourism, climate change, habitat loss, and inbreeding suppression are some of the factors that may affect the bowhead's recovery. We need local and historical knowledge to understand the bowhead's natural history. Together with scientific data, such knowledge is also useful in evaluating the status of the species and prescribing a management plan. A recovery plan must employ the precautionary principle, both within the international 'meta-population' context and at the sub-population level; it must take a historical view and seek to protect abandoned habitats. Canada has conducted whaling activities that violate international agreements and diminish the effectiveness of the International Whaling Commission.Key words: Greenland whale, bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus, biology, conservation, management, traditional knowledge RÉSUMÉ. La baleine boréale ou baleine franche (Balaena mysticetus), l'un des mammifères qui vit le plus longtemps, est spécialisée pour filtrer les petits crustacés, des copépodes Calanus pour la plupart, vivant dans les mers arctiques peu peuplées. Amenée au bord de l'extinction par la chasse commerciale à la baleine, la «métapopulation» de l'Atlantique Nord se maintient à moins de 5 p. cent de son abondance passée, et aucun des trois stocks qui la composent n'a montré un rétablissement ferme au cours du siècle dernier. Deux de ces stocks, la population de la baie de Baffin et celle de la baie d'Hudson, se trouvent en été dans les eaux côtières de l'Arctique canadien oriental. Chacun d'eux comprend quelques centaines d'individus, répartis en groupes isolés selon l'âge et le sexe, qui démontrent une fidélité marquée pour les habitats essentiels à leur survie. Une asymétrie de la distribution par âge, la prédation par les épaulards (Orcinus orca), la chasse, l'enchevêtrement dans les filets, le tourisme, le changement climatique, la perte d'habitat et la dépression consanguine sont au nombre des facteurs qui pourraient influencer le rétablissement de l'espèce. Le savoir local et le savoir historique sont tous deux nécessaires pour comprendre l'évolution naturelle de la baleine boréale. Couplés aux données scientifiques, ces savoirs sont en outre utiles dans l'évaluation de l'état de l'espèce ...

show abstract

“…comm. 1998) support the theory of sperm competition, as does the occurrence of large, sexually active groups (Everitt and Krogman, 1979). …”

Section: Breedingmentioning

confidence: 67%

Natural History and Conservation of the Greenland Whale, or Bowhead, in the Northwest Atlantic

Finley¹

2001

ARCTIC

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Four such incidents were observed in March, and each involved two to six whales (Braham et al, 19806). Everitt & Krogman (1979) spermatogenesis, whereas two males taken in the autumn may have been in breeding condition. On this basis, it is concluded that conception probably occurs in late winter while the whales aggregate in the Bering Sea, but may extend into May.…”

Section: Reproductive Biology Conception Und Muting Seamnmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life history of the bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus (Mammalia: Cetacea)

et al. 1984

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper synthesizes data collected from bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) landed by Alaskan Eskimos between 1973 and 1982. From these data, and from the literature, length at birth has been estimated to be 4‐4.5 m, length at one year to be 8‐2 m, length at sexual maturity to be 14 m in females, and maximum length to be 20 m. Sexual activity, possibly mating, has been observed in March through May and the length of gestation is estimated to be 13 months. The calving period appears to extend from March through August, with the peak in births occurring in May. Lactation may extend for one year. Evidence has been provided for a pregnancy rate (percentage pregnant in mature female catch) of 015 and it has been suggested that calving occurs every three to six years. Gross annual reproductive rate (based on calf sightings) is estimated to be at least 3–6%. Sources of mortality are discussed. The sex ratio of animals taken by Eskimos is 0.83: 1.00 (females to males) and is not significantly different from unity. Summary The conclusions drawn in each of the preceding sections are likely to be re‐evaluated as more information becomes available. Still, it is suggested that the length at birth is 4–4.5 m, length at one year is 8.2 m, length at sexual maturity is 14 m in females, and the maximum attainable length is 20 m. Conception is most likely to occur in late winter while the whales congregate in Bering Sea polynyas, whereas the peak in calving appears to occur in May. Consequently, it has been hypothesized that the gestation time is greater than one year, but less than two. By analogy with other right whales and sparse data collected, the duration of lactation is assumed to be one year, although this is arguable. The pregnancy rate of mature females, calculated from ovarian data, is 0.15, projecting a calving interval of approximately seven years. The gross annual reproductive rate generated from field data is 3.6–12.4%. The sex ratio of the harvested animals is 0.83: 1.0, and it is assumed that this does not reflect the whole population. Whatever changes are yet to be made in the understanding of the bow‐head life history, all of the traits delineated are consistent with those predicted for slowly reproducing animals, the quintessential K‐strategist. We are most grateful to the scores of field biologists who have helped us count whales and sample those landed by the Eskimos, and who have contributed ideas and enthusiasm. In addition, we thank R. Tarpley for information on ovaries collected in 1982, J. Breiwick for running several sex ratio estimates, and H. Marsh for her generous assistance with the ovarian histology. Under contract to us R. Davis and W. Koski of L.G.L., environmental research associates, provided the photogrammetric measurements. An earlier, less complete version of our paper was submitted in 1982 as an unpublished report (document SC/34/PS1) to the International Whaling Commission, resulting in many valuable comments from members of the Scientific Committee. P. Best, D. Chapman, and an anonymous...

show abstract

“…While in this position, the males can thrust their genitals toward the females, producing a lateral S-posture (Helweg, Bauer, & Herman, 1993). Male southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) and bowhead whales have been observed using their large pectoral fins to maneuver into belly to belly swims (Everitt & Krogman, 1979). …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing a Catalog of Socio-Sexual Behaviors of Beluga Whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in the Care of Humans

Hill¹,

Dietrich²,

Yeater³

et al. 2015

AB&C

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

-The repertoire of socio-sexual and sexual behaviors of cetaceans is relatively unknown. The purpose of the current study was to advance the existing knowledge of socio-sexual behavior of beluga whales through the development of a behavioral catalog that lists the full repertoire of sexual and socio-sexual behaviors. A behavioral catalog was developed initially from 800 hours of observations, collected across a 7-year period from 11 belugas ranging in age (birth to 30+ years), sex, and social groupings. Using this behavioral catalog, observations of eight additional belugas housed between two other facilities were coded for socio-sexual and sexual behaviors. Sociosexual and sexual behaviors of belugas were similar across all three facilities. Socio-sexual and sexual behaviors involved sequenced behaviors, had lateralized components, and were often subtle in nature. Some of these behaviors overlapped with potentially aggressive actions but showed distinct differences in their form, or topography. Complexity and duration of socio-sexual interactions varied depending on the age and sex of the participating belugas. The development of a complete behavioral catalog, or ethogram, of the socio-sexual and sexual behaviors has profound influences on understanding the mechanisms involved for successful reproduction, a problem that several groups of belugas in their natural habitat are currently facing.Keywords -Beluga, Socio-sexual behavior, Sexual behavior, Behavioral repertoire, Delphinapterus leucas Socio-sexual behavior has been studied in terms of reproductive success, copulation, and courtship. Reproductive success and copulation rates are relatively easy to identify if the definition includes documenting pregnancies, births, and intromission attempts between sexually-mature and receptive individuals. These behaviors, which are directly related to conception or involve direct stimulation of genitalia, can be defined with the term sexual (Campbell, 2007;Connor, Read, & Wrangham, 2000;Connor, Wells, Mann, & Read, 2000). In comparison, socio-sexual behavior includes behaviors that may not be directly involved in conception but may be used for other social purposes, such as developing and maintaining relationships between individuals or courtship (Campbell, 2007;Connor, Wells, et al., 2000). Courtship has traditionally been defined as the innate set of behaviors performed prior to copulation (Lorenz, 1958;Tinbergen, 1952). More recently, the definition of courtship has been expanded to include both elicited innate and emitted learned stereotyped behaviors that draw the attention of potential mates (reviewed by Freeberg, 2000). Hill et al. 106A review of general research on animal behavior indicated that sexual and socio-sexual interactions were the least studied area of research (27% of articles reviewed, Hill, Artz, & Lopez, 2014). Most studies of socio-sexual and sexual interactions have been conducted primarily with fish, amphibians, and invertebrates in laboratory settings. The sexual and socio-sexual behav...

show abstract

Sexual Behavior of Bowhead Whales Observed Off the North Coast of Alaska

Cited by 17 publications

References 1 publication

Natural History and Conservation of the Greenland Whale, or Bowhead, in the Northwest Atlantic

Natural History and Conservation of the Greenland Whale, or Bowhead, in the Northwest Atlantic

Life history of the bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus (Mammalia: Cetacea)

Developing a Catalog of Socio-Sexual Behaviors of Beluga Whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in the Care of Humans

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About