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Feeding rates and under-ice foraging strategies of the smallest lunge filter feeder, the Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis).

Publication ,  Journal Article
Friedlaender, AS; Goldbogen, JA; Nowacek, DP; Read, AJ; Johnston, D; Gales, N
Published in: The Journal of experimental biology
August 2014

Body size and feeding mode are two fundamental characteristics that determine foraging performance and ecological niche. As the smallest obligate lunge filter feeders, minke whales represent an ideal system for studying the physical and energetic limits of filter feeding in endotherms. We used multi-sensor suction cup tags to quantify the feeding performance of Antarctic minke whales. Foraging dives around and beneath sea ice contained up to 24 lunges per dive, the highest feeding rates for any lunge-feeding whale. Their small size allows minke whales access to krill in sea-ice environments not easily accessible to larger baleen whales. Furthermore, their ability to filter feed provides an advantage over other smaller sympatric krill predators such as penguins and seals that feed on individual prey. The unique combination of body size, feeding mechanism and sea-ice habitat of Antarctic minke whales defines a previously undocumented energetic niche that is unique among aquatic vertebrates.

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Published In

The Journal of experimental biology

DOI

EISSN

1477-9145

ISSN

0022-0949

Publication Date

August 2014

Volume

217

Issue

Pt 16

Start / End Page

2851 / 2854

Related Subject Headings

  • Physiology
  • Minke Whale
  • Ice
  • Food Chain
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Euphausiacea
  • Diving
  • Body Size
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Antarctic Regions
 

Citation

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Friedlaender, A. S., Goldbogen, J. A., Nowacek, D. P., Read, A. J., Johnston, D., & Gales, N. (2014). Feeding rates and under-ice foraging strategies of the smallest lunge filter feeder, the Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis). The Journal of Experimental Biology, 217(Pt 16), 2851–2854. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.106682
Friedlaender, A. S., J. A. Goldbogen, D. P. Nowacek, A. J. Read, D. Johnston, and N. Gales. “Feeding rates and under-ice foraging strategies of the smallest lunge filter feeder, the Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis).The Journal of Experimental Biology 217, no. Pt 16 (August 2014): 2851–54. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.106682.
Friedlaender AS, Goldbogen JA, Nowacek DP, Read AJ, Johnston D, Gales N. Feeding rates and under-ice foraging strategies of the smallest lunge filter feeder, the Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis). The Journal of experimental biology. 2014 Aug;217(Pt 16):2851–4.
Friedlaender, A. S., et al. “Feeding rates and under-ice foraging strategies of the smallest lunge filter feeder, the Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis).The Journal of Experimental Biology, vol. 217, no. Pt 16, Aug. 2014, pp. 2851–54. Epmc, doi:10.1242/jeb.106682.
Friedlaender AS, Goldbogen JA, Nowacek DP, Read AJ, Johnston D, Gales N. Feeding rates and under-ice foraging strategies of the smallest lunge filter feeder, the Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis). The Journal of experimental biology. 2014 Aug;217(Pt 16):2851–2854.
Journal cover image

Published In

The Journal of experimental biology

DOI

EISSN

1477-9145

ISSN

0022-0949

Publication Date

August 2014

Volume

217

Issue

Pt 16

Start / End Page

2851 / 2854

Related Subject Headings

  • Physiology
  • Minke Whale
  • Ice
  • Food Chain
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Euphausiacea
  • Diving
  • Body Size
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Antarctic Regions