Hi:
We can explain - at least in general terms - many but not all
strandings. Certain factors and locations are often consistent in mass
strandings, and in some places it's fairly simple. in others, it's more
of a mystery.
First of all it's important to distinguish between single and mass
strandings. Single strandings are invariably of animals that are
terminally ill, and these can involve anything from dolphins to
(occasionally) large baleen whales. Mass strandings are confined
exclusively to toothed whales (dolphins, porpoises, sperm whales etc),
and frequently involve a few species. Pilot whales are common mass
stranders. The reasons are probably not simple, but a mass stranding is
likely a combination of more than one factor acting together. Each
factor increases the probability of a stranding.
Off Cape Cod, for instance, we have a lot of these events. Part of it
is clear due to bottom topography - there are places here where, at high
tide (especially spring tides) it's quite deep, but any whales hanging
around for too long risk being caught on a rapidly falling tide and
stranded in an area of shallows and sand bars. Add to this bad weather
- which makes it difficult for whales to reorient themselves, and may
well include large waves pushing them onto a beach - and you have a good
recipe for a stranding. The close-knit social ties of pilot whales
almost certainly don't help.
Any ties between climate change and strandings has not been studied, but
personally I rather doubt there's a link.
Phil Clapham
Daniel Bloom wrote:
>
>
> Memorandum
>
>
>
> To: Dr Phil Clapman
>
> From: Daniel T. Bloom
>
>
>
> We have read recently about a number of incidents both in the area of
> Florida where we live and around the world of whales beaching themselves
> in great numbers. The question I have for you tonight is several fold:
>
>
>
> 1. Is there any common denominator in the types, ages or sexes of the
> whales that are beaching themselves?
>
>
>
> 2. Is there any direct correlation between the re-emergence of el
> nino, the change in weather patterns and these beachings?
>
>
>
> 3. Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter
>
> The material contained in the text of this e-mail is the same as the
> attachment shown above.This e-mail is also part of a mid-term
> examination for a educational technology course.
>
>
>
> Daniel T. Bloom
>
> dbaiscrp@yahoo.com
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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--Phillip J. Clapham, Ph.D. Large Whale Biology Program Northeast Fisheries Science Center 166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543, U.S.A.
tel. 508 495-2316 fax 508 495-2066 email: pclapham@whsun1.wh.whoi.edu
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Sat Mar 08 2003 - 19:16:45 EST