( The Blue Whale )
by Hannah Levin
Remember when you were a child, and dreamt of terrifyingly huge animals lurking within the seas? Chances are, whatever you were imaging was close to the profound grandiose of the Blue Whale.
Ecology and Physical Description
The blue whale, or the Balaenoptera musculus, is the largest animal ever known to have existed, as well as one of the loudest animals on Earth. The mammals are simply enormous, on average ranging from 70-90 feet, equivalent to three school buses! Additionally, they can weigh anywhere from 200,000 - 300,000 pounds. They are recognizable not only by their size, but their blue/grey color, yellowing underbelly, and long streamlined body. Generally, their pectoral fins are long and thin, with small dorsal fins. On each side of their mouths, these gigantic beings have a row of 300-400 baleen plates on each side of the mouth, ranging in length from 50 cm in front to 100 cm in back.
Geographic and Population Changes
The majority of blue whales reside within the coasts around Alaska and California. The distribution of these marine beings are governed by food availability and seasonal migration patterns. In the spring, whales more toward the poles in order to take advantage of high zooplankton and krill production. In the fall, the subtropics allow blue whales to “reduce their energy expenditure while fasting, avoid ice entrapment in some areas, and engage in reproductive activities” (NMFS). From 1930-1960, the majority of commercial blue whale hunting occurred, significantly damaging the species population size. A reported total of 9,500 blue whales were killed by commercial whalers in the North Pacific between 1910 and 1965, while an estimated 8,000 - 9,000 blue whales are left now.
FUN FACT:
Off the California Coast, more than 2,800 blue whales feed annually, creating it the largest concentration of blue whales in the world!
'Endangered' Listing and Threats
The blue whale was listed as endangered worldwide on May 2, 1970, with some nations declaring protective laws as early as the 1930’s. However, the IUCN Red List now lists three geographical populations of blue whales, as follows: Antarctic stock as "endangered," North Pacific stock as "low risk, conservation dependent,” and North Atlantic stock as “vulnerable”, and the pygmy blue whale is classified as "data deficient”.
The largest threats to these colossal marine animals are entanglement in fishing gear, disturbance through whale watching, reduced food availability due to habitat degradation, and chemical/acoustic pollution.
Recovery Plan- Ensuring the Continued Safety of the Species
Blue whales are protected under both the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The recovery plan for the species focuses on the following:
1. Determining the size and trends of the population
2. Determining the stock size of the whales world wide
3. Identifying and protecting their habitats
4. Reducing anthropogenic actions that cause harm to blue whale populations
5. Maximizing research on blue whales as a species 6. Coordinating efforts to help these marine mammals governmentally
7. Future criteria for delisting or re-categorizing the status of the species.
How YOU Can Help
Due to the laws enacted in order to protect blue whales, poaching is not a current, or extremely pressing issue anymore and the population is in a recovery stage. However, you can still help these marine creatures by volunteering for, or donating to organizations that work to sustain the current recovery plan. Additionally, you can donate to groups actively dedicated to ending unsustainable fishing practices, or sonar pollution and switch to use environmentally-friendly chemicals, and eat sustainable fish in your everyday life.
Other Resources:
More Educational Material: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Donate! Adopt a Blue Whale
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Works Cited:
"Adopt a Blue Whale." Adopt a Blue Whale - Wildlife Adoption and Gift Center. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.
Anonymous. Whale and Shark Migration and the Oil Disaster. Digital image. Https://ourfutureistoday.wordpress.com/2010/06/09/whale-and-shark-migration-and-the-oil-disaster/. Our Future Is Today Blog, 9 June 2009. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.
"Balaenoptera Musculus." The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.
"Balaenoptera Musculus." The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.
"Blue Whale (Balaenoptera Musculus)" NOAA Fisheries. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.
Blue Whale Study. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.
"Cleaner Ratings | Laundry." EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning | Cleaner Ratings. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.
"Seafood Watch - Official Site of the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Sustainable Seafood Program." Seafood Watch . Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.
Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. "Species Profile for Blue Whale (Balaenoptera Musculus)." Species Profile for Blue Whale (Balaenoptera Musculus). Web. 29 Nov. 2016.
Verstegen, Piers. Loudest Animal On Earth Poster. Digital image. Save Our Marine Life. Org. Conservation Coucil of WA Inc. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.
Whale Size Interaction Screenshot, National Geographic Blue Whale Interactive. Personal photograph by author. 2016.
"Working for Sustainable Fishing." WWF. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.
The photographs and diagrams that you used were very helpful. The heart and cow comparison is very interesting. I also had no idea that blue whales were one of the loudest animals on earth.I also was unaware that the largest concentration of blue whales was off of the California coast since they seen to not be talked about as much as humpback whales. I will try to help these whales as much as I can. I already don’t eat fish but I will try to stay more aware of the chemicals I buy. Thanks for the helpful links within your blog.
ReplyDeleteA. Mayou