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Oil adsorption does not structurally or functionally alter whale baleen.

Alexander J Werth1, Shemar M Blakeney1, Adrian I Cothren1

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This summary is machine-generated.

Mysticete whale baleen repels oil, protecting filter function from spills. However, plastic pollution poses a greater threat to these filter-feeding marine mammals.

Keywords:
adsorptionconservationfilter-feedingkeratinmysticetepollution

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Area of Science:

  • Marine Biology
  • Zoology
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Mysticete whales utilize baleen, a specialized keratinous oral tissue, for filter-feeding small prey from seawater.
  • Baleen consists of hundreds of serial plates hanging from the palate, crucial for their feeding mechanism.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of various oils on the material properties and structure of baleen from four mysticete species.
  • To assess the potential for oil fouling and its impact on baleen's filter-feeding efficiency.
  • To compare the risks posed by oil pollution versus plastic pollution to mysticete whales.

Main Methods:

  • Laboratory experiments were conducted on baleen samples from bowhead, North Atlantic right, fin, and humpback whales.
  • Baleen was exposed to different weights and viscosities of petroleum-based and natural oils.
  • Material strength, flexibility, particle capture, and tissue architecture were analyzed, alongside oil adsorption and water rinsing capabilities.

Main Results:

  • Baleen was found to be hydrophilic and oleophobic, effectively shedding oil rather than adsorbing it.
  • No significant differences in oil interaction were observed based on oil type or whale species.
  • Microscopic analysis revealed minimal damage to baleen's cortical keratin layers, indicating resilience to oil exposure.
  • Oil was easily rinsed from baleen by flowing water, especially from the moving fringes.

Conclusions:

  • Fears of significant baleen fouling by oil spills appear largely unfounded, as baleen's filter porosity is not appreciably affected.
  • The primary risk from oil pollution remains potential ingestion by mysticete whales.
  • Plastic pollution presents a potentially greater danger to mysticetes compared to oil contamination due to its impact on filter-feeding and potential for ingestion.