Baleen whale cortisol levels reveal ...

[GordMay]

"The History of the Oceans Is Locked in Whale Earwax"
The Atlantic ~ Ed Yong, Nov 21, 2018
➥ https://www.theatlantic.com/science/...earwax/576349/

“Baleen whale cortisol levels reveal a physiological response to 20th century whaling” ~ Stephen J. Trumble, et al
Nature Communications, volume 9, Article number: 4587 (November 2, 2018)
➥ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-07044-w

[senormechanico]

My takeaway from the nature.com article is the whales are saying,


"GET OFF MY LAWN !"

[Don C L]

This is really amazing stuff, Thanks Gord! I really look forward to what else they find in terms of reproduction and pollutants. Our local Santa Barbara Channel has become a popular feeding area for Blues and Humpbacks and because of that we are more concerned about ship strikes. There has been a voluntary program for ships to slow down going through the channel but most of the ones I have seen are still doing 15 to 20 knots or so. Moving the shipping lane out would be an easy fix, and would add only a few miles to any trip for shipping traffic.... we'll see if that idea will get any more traction as more whales come in to the area. There is an app for our area to report whale sightings in the channel in the hopes of reducing strikes.

[JPA Cate]

Somebody needs to find out what will cost for shipping companies to take the outside route during migration times. Someone will have to pay more for their *stuff*.

Ann

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Somebody needs to find out what will cost for shipping companies to take the outside route during migration times. Someone will have to pay more for their *stuff*.

Ann

Yes I suppose, but as a percentage of the entire trip, the difference is miniscule I think, and as an added bonus, for them, they are less likely to hit me too!