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Whale Watching News

Whales and dolphins. Whale songs, beaching, endangered status -- current research news on all cetaceans.

09/01/2010 05:00 AM

Researchers develop simulation to better understand the effects of sound on marine life

A combination of the biology of marine mammals, mechanical vibrations and acoustics has led to a breakthrough discovery allowing scientists to better understand the potential harmful effects of sound on marine mammals such as whales and dolphins.

08/31/2010 11:00 AM

Whale sharks may produce many litters from one mating, paternity test shows

Biologists analyzed genetic information from preserved whale shark embryos taken from a female caught off the coast of Taiwan 15 years ago. They found all offspring to have the same father -- an unusual reproduction characteristic for sharks.

08/26/2010 08:00 AM

Thar she blows! Novel method for collecting dolphin DNA

A team of scientists has announced it is the first to extract DNA from dolphin blow (breath exhalations). The researchers found that blow-sampling, which involves collecting exhalations from the blowholes of whales, dolphins and porpoises, could be developed as a less invasive method for DNA collection.

08/02/2010 08:00 PM

Blue whales align the pitch of their songs with extreme accuracy, study finds

Blue whales are able to synchronize the pitch of their calls with an extremely high level of accuracy, and a slim margin of error from call to call, according to a study of blue whales in the eastern North Pacific. The authors suggest that the blue whales' uniform pitch could allow individual whales to locate potential mates by swimming toward them or away from them.

07/07/2010 02:00 AM

Lone whales shout to overcome noise

Just like people in a bar or other noisy location, North American right whales increase the volume of their calls as environmental noise increases; and just like humans, at a certain point, it may become too costly to continue to shout, according to marine and acoustic scientists.

07/02/2010 02:00 AM

Killer whales and the mystery of human menopause

The evolutionary mystery of menopause is a step closer to being solved thanks to research on killer whales. A new study has found a link between killer whales, pilot whales and humans -- the only three known species where females stop breeding relatively early in their lifespan.

06/23/2010 05:00 AM

Impacts of Chilean salmon farms on coastal ecosystem discovered accidentally

Until recently, the disastrous scale of the threat posed by salmon farms to the fauna and National Park of the Aysén region of southern Chile was entirely unknown. The unexpected discovery was made by researchers who were studying acoustic communication among the native whales in the region. The researchers not only discovered that the salmon industry is rapidly spreading to the hitherto largely unspoiled south of the region; they also documented the previously unknown threat to the region's native sea lions.

06/09/2010 02:00 PM

Dolphins use diplomacy in their communication, biologists find

Marine biologists are studying the repertoire of sounds used by bottlenose dolphins to communicate. The study reveals stunning complexity in dolphin communication and our lack of understanding about the communication of these marine mammals.

05/30/2010 11:00 PM

How whales have changed over 35 million years

Evolutionary biologists have looked back 35 million years to provide the first test of why whales show such rich diversity. Species diversification and body size of whales were established early in their evolution.

04/22/2010 05:00 PM

Several different species of killer whales likely

Scientists report finding strong genetic evidence supporting the theory there are several species of killer whales (Orcinus orca, also known as orcas) throughout the world's oceans.

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