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Bowhead whale foraging dives are defined by speed and body orientation
Manon F den Haan1, Paolo S Segre2, Eric Kilabuk3
1Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Plos One
|April 24, 2026
Summary
Researchers identified key body movements, like speed and fluke rate, that indicate bowhead whale feeding. This helps track foraging in changing Arctic environments.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Animal Behavior
- Climate Change Ecology
Background:
- Understanding baleen whale foraging is crucial for assessing climate change impacts on energy acquisition.
- Previous studies on balaenid (bowhead and right whale) feeding relied on inertial sensing tags, inferring feeding during predictable prey conditions.
- High-latitude foraging conditions are increasingly variable, influencing zooplankton distribution, abundance, and biomass.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify kinematic features of confirmed bowhead whale feeding in a sub-Arctic fjord with fluctuating prey availability.
- To validate behavioral observations with high-resolution 3D biologging data and concurrent video recordings.
Main Methods:
- Collected high-resolution, 3D biologging data (Customized Animal Tracking Solutions Tags) and video recordings.
- Utilized a mixed-model approach to analyze kinematic variables and behavioral validation.
- Compared fluke stroke frequency during feeding versus non-feeding periods and across different depths.
Main Results:
- Mean bottom speed, bottom pitch and roll, change in average swim speed, and time of day were significant predictors of bowhead whale feeding.
- Fluke stroke frequency was significantly faster during feeding (0.191 Hz) than non-feeding (0.172 Hz).
- A depth-dependent switch in fluke stroke frequency was observed: higher rates at shallow depths (≤23 m) and lower rates at deeper depths (>23 m).
Conclusions:
- Descriptive kinematic variables can improve the identification of feeding behavior in balaenid whale data.
- This research enhances understanding of bowhead whale foraging efforts in a changing climate.
- Relying solely on dive shape may overestimate feeding activities; kinematic data provides a more accurate assessment.
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