Tag: ocean ecology
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Hawai’i Pilot Whales Reveal Incredible Depths of Diet in Groundbreaking Study
How eight tagged pilot whales opened a window into Hawai’i’s deep seas In a bold, field-based investigation off the coast of Hawai’i, researchers tagged eight short-finned pilot whales to uncover just how much their deep-diving lifestyle depends on a steady supply of prey. The project, which combined tagging technology with long-term tracking and careful diet…
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How Much Do Hawaii’s Pilot Whales Eat? Researchers Reveal the Surprising Squid Toll
New Insights into Hawaii’s Deep-Diving Whales A team of scientists has turned a routine tagging operation into a quest to quantify the food needs of Hawaii’s iconic short-finned pilot whales. By tagging eight individuals and following their movements from the sunlit surface to the darkness of deep-water dives, researchers uncover a story about diet, energy,…
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Orcas Target Great White Sharks in Mexican Waters: Drone Footage Reveals Liver-Eating Hunt
Striking Predator Behavior in Mexican Waters Researchers in Mexico have documented a remarkable and somewhat unsettling predatory strategy by orcas (Orcinus orca). Using autonomous and manned drones, scientists captured multiple incidents in which pods of orcas pursue young great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) and feed on their livers, a nutrient-dense organ that provides a quick…
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Eastern Australian Humpback Whales Soaring Beyond Pre-Whaling Numbers
Recovery Milestone: Humpbacks Surpass Pre-Whaling Numbers The eastern Australian humpback whale population has not only recovered; it appears to have exceeded the pre-whaling numbers that once defined the species along Australia’s east coast. A preliminary report to the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water estimates there were more than 50,000 eastern…