Energetic and physical limitations on the breaching performance of large whales.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Segre PS
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7065846 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Energetic and physical limitations on the breaching performance of large whales.
Segre Paolo S PS Potvin Jean J Cade David E DE Calambokidis John J Di Clemente Jacopo J Fish Frank E FE Friedlaender Ari S AS Gough William T WT Kahane-Rapport Shirel R SR Oliveira Cláudia C Parks Susan E SE Penry Gwenith S GS Simon Malene M Stimpert Alison K AK Wiley David N DN Bierlich K C KC Madsen Peter T PT Goldbogen Jeremy A JA
eLife 20200311
The considerable power needed for large whales to leap out of the water may represent the single most expensive burst maneuver found in nature. However, the mechanics and energetic costs associated with the breaching behaviors of large whales remain poorly understood. In this study we deployed whale-borne tags to measure the kinematics of breaching to test the hypothesis that these spectacular aerial displays are metabolically expensive. We found that breaching whales use variable underwater tra ...[more]
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