The rarely seen beaked whales have scientists talking. Mostly found only as carcasses washed ashore leading to their discovery in the first place, researchers have been doing some testing pertaining to their teeth and the connection with breeding. Scientists presume that their teeth have evolved as secondary traits to help females select males of the right species. These whales are identical and the only difference in gender is teeth or tusks. Females can distinguish breed as well as gender since each breed of beaked whales has their own distinctive set of teeth and tusks.
Teeth in the beaked whales are something worth researching as it is since it is not known exactly why they have them in the first place which led to this study. A beaked whale’s diet seems to mainly consist of squid making their particular tooth structure and tusks unnecessary for their survival. In some species of the beaked whale their teeth actually make it more difficult for them to eat since they can wrap around the upper jaw only allowing them to open their mouths slightly. Female beaked whales however do not show their teeth at all.
The research team on this project took DNA samples from 14 beaked whale species to create a family tree showing just how the various species had developed over time. The timeline closely showed how the female beaked whale was the deciding factor in who was going to continue family line, choosing only to mate with male beaked whales that met certain criteria. Studies showed that the female beaked whales used the shape of the teeth to select their males of the right species to mate with. It is speculated that they may also choose mates based on the size or shape of the individuals teeth or of the scars they bear.
Beaked whales, when choosing their females, will fight if needed. Through these mating battles, the males are left with massive scars marking them and giving them another distinguishing mark for females to tell them apart from the others. Scientists think that these scars are also a determining factor in the females choice in a mate as well as the shape and size of their tusks. Beaked whales that had a fair amount of scaring seemed to have a better chance at winning over the female. As most species go, only the strongest survives and the beaked whales prove no different when it comes to choosing the very best for reproduction in their line of species.
Once the family tree was laid out in a timeline for researchers to look at, the data showed that the more successful males were the ones with the shape of teeth most characteristic of that particular species ensuring that the shapes are preserved and even enhanced over evolutionary time making this a secondary sexual characteristic. This is amazing to researchers as this is the first time that secondary sexual selection has been shown to have shaped the evolution of any marine mammal on earth.
With the popular uprising of herbal supplements and treatments environmentalists are starting to show concern for mass krill harvesting. They worry that fishing krill in this manner in small areas may starve land based animals that can not travel far as well as the possibility of a food shortage for whales. Animals that depend on krill for nutrition in addition to our large whale friends are fish, seals and penguins. Taking away their source of food not only could lead to starvation but extinction in these small areas that are being harvested. Without one of the most basic necessities to survive such as nutrition their life expectancies are greatly shortened as well as healthy reproduction.
Krill are known to be the most successful species on earth. They are tiny crustaceans found in every ocean. Their total biomass is estimated to be 400 million tonnes which is equal to twice the human population. Mainly harvested by the Soviet Union the original desire for these ocean creatures was to be used as a delicacy for the Polish and Germans. This tradition began in the 1970’s sometime.
Aside to being harvested for good eats, health nuts are wanting to get their hands on as much krill as they can. Krill is now being harvested for creation of producing Krill Oil in pill form. These supplements are believed to combine both antioxidants and omega-3’s. It has been known for years that you can get your fill of these needs by consuming fish but some supplement stores are instilling fear of eating fish to push people into preferring the Krill Oil supplements instead.
Granted there are some that should refrain from eating fish and or shell fish for health reasons but not everyone needs to fear. The FDA and EPA only officially advise against consumption of fish/shell fish to children, pregnant women and nursing mothers. Some herbal advocates are tyring to scare everyone into thinking that fish in our supermarkets or even caught fresh are too polluted to be edible and do not contain enough nutritional value to do the job. Your fear is what is giving Krill Oil supplements the great market that it has resulting in the mass krill harvesting that could very well lead to starvation for krill dependent animals.
An inside look on antioxidants and Omega-3s: They take care of harmful metabolic byproducts that damage cells and tissues throughout your body or more commonly defined, they allow your body to neutralize free radicals. Omega-3s promote heart health and provide your immune system and mood swings support. Krill are found to be high in content due to their diet of algae.
Though there are some studies that are going on that could be very beneficial natural remedies. Currently those that have problems with high cholesterol or sufferers of PMS and even those with arthritis may end up benefiting from krill, though for now we can get our antioxidants and Omega-3s through fish oil supplements or simply sitting down to a good salmon dinner.
Bad news for about 200 narwhal whales stranded in the icy waters of Canada. According to this story from the AFP:
At least 200 narwhal whales in Canada’s Arctic, trapped by winter ice that is setting in around them and facing starvation or suffocation, must be culled, officials said Friday.
Hunters from the village of Pond Inlet on Baffin Island discovered the animals trapped near Bylot Island, about 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) from Pond Inlet, on November 15, and checked on them periodically.
The local hunters are allowed to harvest only 130 whales each year for food, according to standards set by the federal department of Fisheries and Oceans.
But department spokesman Keith Pelley told AFP: “It’s unlikely the animals are going to survive the winter, so the hunters have been given authorization to cull them.”
The hunters have been on the ice slaughtering the whales since Thursday and are likely to accomplish their task over the coming days, he said.
